Mario Laserna Pinzón
Encyclopedia
Mario Laserna Pinzón is a French
-Colombian
educator and politician. Laserna Pinzón is credited for being the founder of the Los Andes University in Bogotá
, which was incorporated in 1948 and is a private institution modeled on the United States liberal arts educational system
. He also served as Senator of Colombia
, and Ambassador to France
and Austria
and is an author of several books.
in 1940 and went on to study Law for three years at Our Lady of the Rosary University
to later change his career and move to the United States
to attend Columbia University
where he completed his undergraduate studies
in Mathematics, Physics, and Humanities in 1948. He would go on to obtain a Master's degree
at Princeton University
and to study German
and philosophy at the University of Heidelberg in Germany
, and he later obtained a Doctorate
at the Free University of Berlin
. For his life's work he was awarded a Doctorate Honoris Causa
by Brandeis University
.
Mario Laserna Pinzón is widely admired in his country as an educator, a politician, and a passionate seeker of knowledge, with numerous books and studies to his credit. During the late 1940s and 1950s he became acquainted with many important scientific figures of the day, including Albert Einstein
, whom he met while studying at Princeton, and Nicolás Gómez Dávila, his mentor.
In 1948, upon graduating from Columbia, he returned to Colombia and dedicated himself to the creation of a private secular institution of higher learning in Bogotá
. His dream became a reality on November 16, 1948 when Los Andes University was founded, institution of which he became rector
between 1953 to 1954. He also served as rector of the National University of Colombia
(1958–1960).
to his native France
(1976–1979) and to Austria
(1987–1990), served in the Senate of Colombia
and served as councillor
of Bogotá.
He worked in politics as a philosopher interested in learning the workings of government and people which led him to run as Senator representing the radical liberal party of the M-19 Democratic Alliance, even though he himself belonged to the Colombian Conservative Party
, he said he joined the M-19 in spite of being a conservative because he "wanted to know how the people who had been [hiding] in the mountain and had returned to civil life thought. Also because they had Bolivarian roots", as he himself was a believer of Bolivarianism.
As a Senator he had to answer to accusations of working with the fugitive Roberto Soto Prieto who had allegedly stolen $13.5 million US dollars and with whom Laserna had connections in Austria through his work as Ambassador, at which time Soto Prieto was an alleged refugee in that country, and through alleged business deals in which Soto was found to be indirectly involved. At the request of the Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Noemí Sanín
the last five ambassadors to Austria and all employees of the embassy were investigated by the Inspector General of Colombia
and the Attorney General of Colombia
, among those was Mario Laserna Pinzón. Laserna was later cleared of all charges in respect to the case.
Because of his life's work and contribution to the country, President Álvaro Uribe Vélez honored him with the Order of Boyacá in the Rank of the Grand Cross, the highest civilian honour bestowed by the Republic of Colombia.
and the newspaper La República. He also authored various books and essays on Colombian history and government, development in the Third World
, and philosophy.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
-Colombian
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
educator and politician. Laserna Pinzón is credited for being the founder of the Los Andes University in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, which was incorporated in 1948 and is a private institution modeled on the United States liberal arts educational system
Liberal arts colleges in the United States
Liberal arts colleges in the United States are certain undergraduate institutions of higher education in the United States. The Encyclopædia Britannica Concise offers a definition of the liberal arts as a "college or university curriculum aimed at imparting general knowledge and developing general...
. He also served as Senator of Colombia
Senate of Colombia
The Senate of the Republic of Colombia is the upper house of the Congress of Colombia, with the lower house being the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia...
, and Ambassador to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and is an author of several books.
Education
He was born in Paris, France on August 21, 1923 to Colombian parents, Francisco Laserna and Helena Pinzón, and was raised in Colombia. He graduated from the Gimnasio ModernoGimnasio Moderno
The Gimnasio Moderno is a private all-male traditional and liberal, primary and secondary school located in Bogotá, Colombia. It was founded in 1914 by various prestigious Colombians following the leading initiative of Don Agustín Nieto Caballero...
in 1940 and went on to study Law for three years at Our Lady of the Rosary University
Our Lady of the Rosary University
The Universidad del Rosario is a university originally founded on Roman Catholic principles, in 1653 by Fray Cristobal de Torres. Located in Bogotá, Colombia, due to its important place in Colombian history, it is known as "The Cradle of the Republic". It had also a primary and secundary school...
to later change his career and move to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to attend Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
where he completed his undergraduate studies
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Mathematics, Physics, and Humanities in 1948. He would go on to obtain a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and to study German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
and philosophy at the University of Heidelberg in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and he later obtained a Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
at the Free University of Berlin
Free University of Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
. For his life's work he was awarded a Doctorate Honoris Causa
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
by Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
.
Mario Laserna Pinzón is widely admired in his country as an educator, a politician, and a passionate seeker of knowledge, with numerous books and studies to his credit. During the late 1940s and 1950s he became acquainted with many important scientific figures of the day, including Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
, whom he met while studying at Princeton, and Nicolás Gómez Dávila, his mentor.
In 1948, upon graduating from Columbia, he returned to Colombia and dedicated himself to the creation of a private secular institution of higher learning in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
. His dream became a reality on November 16, 1948 when Los Andes University was founded, institution of which he became rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
between 1953 to 1954. He also served as rector of the National University of Colombia
National University of Colombia
The Universidad Nacional de Colombia , also called UNAL or just UN, is a public, national, coeducational, research university, located primarily in Bogotá, Medellín, Manizales and Palmira, Colombia...
(1958–1960).
Politics
Given his high profile Laserna was absorbed into politics by those who wanted to present the world with one of the best examples of Colombian intellect, and so he served as the Colombian AmbassadorAmbassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to his native France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(1976–1979) and to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
(1987–1990), served in the Senate of Colombia
Senate of Colombia
The Senate of the Republic of Colombia is the upper house of the Congress of Colombia, with the lower house being the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia...
and served as councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
of Bogotá.
He worked in politics as a philosopher interested in learning the workings of government and people which led him to run as Senator representing the radical liberal party of the M-19 Democratic Alliance, even though he himself belonged to the Colombian Conservative Party
Colombian Conservative Party
The Colombian Conservative Party , is a conservative political party in Colombia. The party was unofficially founded by a group of Revolutionary Commoners during the Revolutionary War for Independence from the Spanish Monarchy and later formally established during the Greater Colombia...
, he said he joined the M-19 in spite of being a conservative because he "wanted to know how the people who had been [hiding] in the mountain and had returned to civil life thought. Also because they had Bolivarian roots", as he himself was a believer of Bolivarianism.
As a Senator he had to answer to accusations of working with the fugitive Roberto Soto Prieto who had allegedly stolen $13.5 million US dollars and with whom Laserna had connections in Austria through his work as Ambassador, at which time Soto Prieto was an alleged refugee in that country, and through alleged business deals in which Soto was found to be indirectly involved. At the request of the Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Noemí Sanín
Noemí Sanín
Marta Noemí del Espíritu Santo Sanín Posada is a Colombian lawyer and politician, twice Ambassador of Colombia to the United Kingdom, as well as Ambassador to Spain and Venezuela...
the last five ambassadors to Austria and all employees of the embassy were investigated by the Inspector General of Colombia
Inspector General of Colombia
The Office of the Inspector General of Colombia is a Colombian independent, public institution overseeing the public conduct of those in authority or in charge of exercising a public office, and of overseeing the correct functioning of other government institutions and agencies...
and the Attorney General of Colombia
Attorney General of Colombia
The Office of the Attorney General of Colombia is the Colombian institution part of the Colombian judicial branch of Government with administrative autonomy designed to prosecute offenders, investigate crimes, review judicial processes and accuse penal law infractions against judges and courts of...
, among those was Mario Laserna Pinzón. Laserna was later cleared of all charges in respect to the case.
Because of his life's work and contribution to the country, President Álvaro Uribe Vélez honored him with the Order of Boyacá in the Rank of the Grand Cross, the highest civilian honour bestowed by the Republic of Colombia.
Works
Mario Laserna was a very prolific reader and writer, which led him to write for various newspapers and to become the director of Revista SemanaRevista Semana
Semana or Revista Semana is a Colombian-based weekly magazine. It was founded in 1946 by Alberto Lleras Camargo , but was shut down after a controversial cover depicting Cuban leader Fidel Castro.In 1983, journalist Felipe López Caballero re-founded the magazine...
and the newspaper La República. He also authored various books and essays on Colombian history and government, development in the Third World
Third World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
, and philosophy.
- Misión y problema de la universidad. Bogotá: Universidad de los Andes, 1955. (Co-authored along with Alberto Lleras CamargoAlberto Lleras CamargoAlberto Lleras Camargo was an important Colombian diplomat and political figure.He was a member of the Liberal Party of Colombia; he served as congressman , Minister of Education, Minister of the Interior and Minister of Foreign Affairs, during the governments of Alfonso López Pumarejo and Eduardo...
) http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/24004078
- Estado fuerte o caudillo: el dilema colombiano. Bogotá: Ediciones Mito, 1961 http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1969093
- Klassenlogik und formale Einteilung der Wissenschaft. Berlin: Druck: E. Reuter-Gesellschaft, 1963. (Dissertation) http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/22468251
- Rousseau y la antinomia de la libertad de Loewenthal. Bogotá: 1965. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/54993021
- Estado, consenso, democracia y desarrollo. Bogotá: Ediciones Tercer Mundo, 1966. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3201311
- La revolución, ¿para qué? : y otros ensayos. Bogotá: Ed. Revista Colombiana, 1966. http://lccn.loc.gov/66077255
- Individuo y sociedad. Bogotá:, Editorial Revista Colombiana. 1969.http://lccn.loc.gov/78473074
- Sociedad post-industrial y países sub-desarrollados. Bogotá: Universidad de los Andes, Programa Alta Gerencia, 1970's. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/7092009
- Informe sobre las UPAC y sus incidencias sociales y económicas. Bogotá: Tall. Ed. de la Impr. Nacional de Colombia, 1974. ISBN 958-601-074-0 http://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&Search_Arg=9586010740&Search_Code=GKEY%5E*&CNT=100&hist=1&type=quick
- Bolívar, un euro-americano frente a la Ilustración : y otros ensayos de interpretación de la historia indo-iberoamericana. Bogotá: Ediciones Tercer Mundo, 1986. ISBN 958-601-074-0 http://lccn.loc.gov/87102034
- Dos ensayos sobre la posibilidad de la historia: Carta de Heidelberg. Bogotá: Ediciones Uniandes, 1999. ISBN 958-695-030-1 http://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9586950301
- Reflexiones sobre la Revolución Científica del siglo XVII. Bogotá: Universidad de los Andes, 2003. ISBN 958-695-102-2 http://www.lalibreriadelau.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/984?sid=3bfb321a55dcf0ce5a798382e1413bae
- La Crítica de la Razón Pura, Metalenguaje de la Ciencia. Bogotá: Universidad de los Andes, 2004. ISBN 958-695-136-7 http://www.lalibreriadelau.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/981?sid=3bfb321a55dcf0ce5a798382e1413bae