Summary
In a lecture delivered in Alcalá de Henares, Higinio Marín, Catholic philosopher and rector of Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, addressed the complex issue of charity and borders. Presenting his talk under the title “Charity and Borders,” Marín broke free from moral automatism by speaking as a philosopher and anthropologist with academic freedom. He emphasized that humans operate with inclinations mediated by will and cultural symbolic codes rather than rigid behavioral instincts. Marín argued that civilization’s foundation can be traced back to great prohibitions, such as the prohibition of incest, which stabilizes the family structure and allows for coherent kinship terms. Another significant prohibition is against cannibalism, suggesting humans are those who feed each other, leading to a discussion on hospitality. He stated that this institution transcends sentimentalism and can be seen as a cultural translation of basic human anthropology, moving beyond contemporary political debates.
Key Topics
Higinio Marín, Charity, Borders
