Manuel García Morente Plaque

What secrets lie behind a simple plaque? Here, before the Manuel García Morente Plaque, we unravel a story of a man of immense intellect and surprising transformation. This plaque marks the building where Manuel García Morente, a renowned philosopher and translator, resided from 1926 to 1936. It also commemorates his pivotal role in developing the Faculty of Philosophy at Ciudad Universitaria during those years. Manuel García Morente, born in 1886, began his academic journey in France, earning a degree in Literature from the University of Bordeaux. He furthered his studies in Germany, immersing himself in the philosophies of neo-Kantian thinkers. Back in Spain, his brilliance secured him the Chair of Ethics at the University of Madrid in 1912. García Morente’s legacy includes significant translations of works by Kant, Husserl, and Spengler, introducing these influential thinkers to a Spanish audience. During the Second Republic, he served as Undersecretary of Public Education and Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters at the University of Madrid. However, the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 abruptly ended his tenure. He sought refuge in Paris, where a profound experience led to his conversion to Catholicism. He then journeyed to Argentina, teaching at the National University of Tucumán. He eventually returned to Spain, entering the priesthood in 1940. He continued his scholarly pursuits, focusing on Thomistic philosophy and Spanish history. García Morente’s life, marked by intellectual prowess and a spiritual awakening, ended in Madrid in 1942. The Manuel García Morente Plaque serves as a quiet reminder of his contributions to philosophy and his remarkable personal journey.