Abstract

The focus of this analysis is on two essential aspects found in Moral social written by the Puerto Rican, Eugenio Maria de Hostos. On one hand we study the origin, sources, and contributions of the moral concepts found in this work. On the other hand, we see how Hostos employs what has come to be known as moral discourse in Moral social. ;We point out some historical background on western moral thought of the XIX century, to show how Hostos' moral thinking enters within the context of the moral propositions that have risen in both Europe and Latin America and can be appreciated better as part of the moral-philosophical thought of the past century. ;An exposition of Hostos' moral thinking as found in Moral social, as well as the sources which were influential in developing his thinking and his contribution to moral ideas, are presented. ;There are traces of how Seneca, Kant, Hegel, Krause, Comte, Mill, Spencer, and Giner de los Rios influenced Hostos' thinking. Of these, Comte's Positivism was the most influential. What makes Moral social original is that the work was entirely dedicated to examine the relationship between morality and society. In the history of ethics and western morality there had never been a work written that completely addressed the topic presented in Moral social, especially from a Latin American perspective. ;Finally, the moral discourse found in Moral social is examined. We start with the theories that have been developed regarding ethics, especially in the "Oxford School". We see how Hostos utilizes several persuasive devices to obtain the effectiveness and authority that a work of this nature demands. These devices are: the frequent use of strong emotional content and the continous use of rhetorical figures. ;There is an absence of imperatives to prevent the rejection of Hostos' ideas. Nevertheless, he frequently utilizes normative expressions. His moral discourse stands out because of the author's tendency to use value-words which contribute to give the emotional strength that a work such as Moral social needs to incite the reader to act in a moral manner