Francisco Romero

Francisco Romero (1891–1962) was a Latin American philosopher who spearheaded a reaction against positivism. Born in Seville, Spain, he emigrated to Argentina in 1904. He served in the Argentine army, retiring as a major in 1931. Romero became a friend of Alejandro Korn and succeeded him in professorships at the universities of La Plata and Buenos Aires. He resigned his positions in 1946 due to his strong disapproval of the Peronist government, returning in 1955. Romero began publishing on literary subjects during World War I. He became known as the "dean of Ibero-American philosophers," influencing criticism, philosophy, and translation. His work explored human culture, creativity, and social responsibility, arguing against deterministic conceptions of the universe and identifying true being with transcendence, spiritual aspiration, and intentionality. His writing balanced philosophical rigor with literary sophistication, and his master work is considered *Theory of Man* (1952). He also served as editor for philosophical publications at Losada. He died in Buenos Aires in 1962.