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School of Philosophy

Master’s Degree in Ancient Philosophy

Call for applications Graduate Admissions

The Master’s Degree in Ancient Philosophy at Universidad Panamericana trains researchers specializing in Greek and Roman philosophy and its subsequent reception.

The program combines training in Classical Greek with seminars in ancient philosophy, systematic philosophy, and the reception of ancient philosophy.

Over four semesters, each student develops an original thesis under the supervision of a faculty specialist. In addition, students participate each year in extracurricular research activities with faculty members and students from Mexico and abroad.

It is the only program in Spanish-speaking Latin America devoted entirely to ancient philosophy. The program is tuition-free: all students receive a full institutional scholarship.

Master’s Degree in Ancient Philosophy

Academic Structure

Each semester focuses, on a rotating basis, on a different branch of philosophy: logic, practical philosophy, philosophy of nature, and metaphysics.

The seminars are taught by members of the program’s faculty and distinguished international guest scholars.

Master's Degree in Ancient Philosophy

Curriculum

First Semester

  • Introduction to Classical Greek
  • Selected Topics in Philosophy I
  • Selected Topics in the Reception of Ancient Philosophy I
  • Selected Topics in the Reception of Ancient Philosophy I
  • Thesis Supervision

Second Semester

  • Classical Greek
  • Selected Topics in Philosophy II
  • Selected Topics in the Reception of Ancient Philosophy II
  • Selected Topics in the Reception of Ancient Philosophy II
  • Introduction to Research Methods

Third semester

  • Introduction to the Translation of Greek Texts
  • Selected Topics in Philosophy III
  • Selected Topics in the Reception of Ancient Philosophy III
  • Selected Topics in the Reception of Ancient Philosophy III
  • Thesis Seminar

Fourth semester

  • Seminar in the Translation of Greek Texts
  • Selected Topics in Philosophy IV
  • Selected Topics in the Reception of Ancient Philosophy IV
  • Selected Topics in the Reception of Ancient Philosophy IV
  • Graduation Seminar

STUDENT PROFILES

ENTRY PROFILE

Knowledge

  • History of Classical Antiquity.
  • Knowledge of the grammar of one or more modern languages.
  • Ancient philosophers and philosophical sources.

Skills

  • Ability to analyze and understand philosophical problems.
  • Ability to write clear, well-structured argumentative texts.
  • Ability to conduct research on topics in ancient philosophy.
  • Ability to manage time responsibly.
  • Critical and reflective thinking skills.
  • Advanced reading and comprehension skills.

Attitudes

  • Openness to dialogue and exchange of ideas.
  • Interest and passion for the study of classical sources.
  • Humility and commitment to rigorous study.

GRADUATE PROFILE

Graduates of the Master’s Degree in Ancient Philosophy will be able to:

Conduct specialized research in ancient philosophy using appropriate methodological tools and the analysis of ancient classical texts.

Develop an original and comprehensive perspective on contemporary discussions in the field, grounded in the historical study of different classical cultures.

Interpret the reception and uses of ancient philosophy within their respective historical and cultural contexts.

Knowledge

  • Classical Greek for the translation of ancient texts.
  • History of Classical Antiquity as a foundation for understanding contemporary theories.
  • Ancient philosophy, both in its theoretical dimensions and in its historical forms of practice.
  • The reception and use of ancient philosophy in later philosophical traditions.
  • Methods for the interpretation of ancient texts.

Skills

  • Research and analyze primary and secondary sources and topics in ancient philosophy.
    Produce academic and public-facing publications on ancient philosophy.
    Apply classical philosophical doctrines to the study and understanding of contemporary phenomena.
  • Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary research teams working on projects in ancient philosophy.
  • Conduct research on the reception of ancient philosophy in later philosophical and cultural traditions.
  • Analyze contemporary culture in light of classical culture.
  • Analyze topics and problems in the classical humanities.

Attitudes

  • Scholarly rigor in the study and presentation of the history of classical philosophy.
  • Research habits.
  • Intellectual openness to the analysis of different philosophical positions in antiquity.
  • A critical approach to the study of classical authors.
  • Openness to relating contemporary issues to classical perspectives.
Graduate Programs

Admissions Process

The admissions process consists of four steps:

1
2
3
4

Application

Applicants must submit an admission application, supporting documents, academic transcript, and research proposal in accordance with the guidelines set out in the call for applications. These documents will be carefully reviewed by the Master’s Program’s Academic Committee.

Interview

After an initial screening, applicants who advance to the second round will participate in an in-person interview with the program’s Academic Committee. During this interview, the applicant will explain and defend their research proposal and demonstrate familiarity with the relevant secondary literature.

Examination Round

After the interview, candidates who advance to the third round will take two exams. The first is a writing examination and the second a textual analysis examination.

Admissions Decision

Finally, after reviewing the writing and analysis tests, the board will notify the selected candidates and announce the official results to all applicants. Successful applicants will then proceed with enrollment.

LGAC

Research Lines

The Development of Ancient Philosophy in Greece and Rome

  • Systematic study of the philosophical schools and traditions of the Greek and Roman worlds, from the Presocratics to late Neoplatonism. Research is based on the direct analysis of sources in Classical Greek and addresses problems in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and cosmology through philological and philosophical methods.

The Reception and Influence of Ancient Philosophy in Later Traditions

  • Study of the transmission, translation, and reworking of Greek philosophical thought in Latin, Arabic, Jewish, medieval, modern, and Mexican traditions. Research examines both the chain of textual transmission and the philosophical significance of each reception within its specific cultural context.
Graduate Programs

Number of Students

Cohort
Students
2026–2027
2
2025–2026
5
2024–2025
4
2023–2024
7
2022–2023
4
2021–2022
3
2020–2021
5
2019–2020
7
2018–2019
3
2017–2018
4
2016–2017
4
2015–2016
6
Cohort
Doctoral Candidate
Thesis Title
Thesis Supervisor
2026–2027
2026–2027
Sebastián Abascal Paniagua
Metaphysical Indeterminacy in Aristotle’s Metaphysics
André Laks
2026–2027
Abraham Magaña Santiago
Platonic Solids throughout History: Their Interpretation and Metaphysical Relation to the Natural Order
André Laks
2025–2026
2025–2026
Emmanuel Aguilar Zavala
Prohairesis as a Fundamental Element of Ethical Action
Héctor Jesús Zagal Arreguín
2025–2026
Ana Belén Casanueva Ramírez
The Development of the Concept of Psychē in Plato’s Works
André Laks
2025–2026
Misael Jonathan Cruz Alemán
Plato’s Critique of Poetry in Book X of the Republic
David Lévystone
2025–2026
Hugo Eduardo Chantez Cortés
On the Definition of Kinēsis
María Elena García Peláez Cruz
2025–2026
Binnui Navarro Romo
Aristotle’s Syllogistic as a Non-Classical Model of Inference
Karen González
2024–2025
2024–2025
Brenda Corina Marín Uribe
A Critique of Nietzsche’s Anti-Theological Position
José María Llovet Abascal
2024–2025
Santiago Quetzalcóatl Rosales Escalera
Challenges of Recognition in Relation to the Mediation of Law
David Lévystone
2024–2025
María del Carmen Velázquez Zavala
The Emergence of Epistemology in Xenophanes
André Laks
2024–2025
José Talib Zamudio Neme
The Divinization or Perfection of the Body
Luis Xavier López Farjeat
2023–2024
2023–2024
Casandra Saraí Freire Muñoz
Implications of Stoic Logic for Seneca’s Ethics
David Lévystone
2023–2024
Esteban Flores Martínez
Self-Knowledge in Aristotle
José Alberto Ross Hernández
2023–2024
Ana Paola Gris Trinidad
Human Restoration through the Liberal Arts
Mauricio Lecón Rosales
2023–2024
Catalina León Letelier
The Reception of Aristotelian Ethics in Duns Scotus
José Luis Rivera Noriega
2023–2024
Erick Palmero Palacios
Philo the Presocratic
André Laks
2023–2024
Víctor Daniel Olivar Ponce de León
The Relationship between Mythology and Metaphysics
Eduardo Charpenel Elorduy

Scholarships

All students admitted to the program receive a full scholarship covering tuition and fees for the entire duration of the program, excluding graduation fees.

International Partnerships

The program maintains academic partnerships with Princeton University, the University of São Paulo, Università del Piemonte Orientale, the University of South Bohemia, Universidad de los Andes, the University of Navarra, and UNAM’s Institute for Philological Research, among other institutions. Graduates are qualified to conduct specialized research in philosophy and to teach philosophy and classical humanities at the university level.

Faculty of Philosophy Faculty Senate

Faculty

André Laks

Philosophy

David Levystone

Philosophy

Eduardo Charpenel Elorduy

Philosophy

Héctor Zagal Arreguin

Philosophy

José Alberto Ross Hernández

Philosophy

José Luis Rivera Noriega

Philosophy

José María Llovet Abascal

Philosophy

Karen González Fernández

Philosophy

Leonardo Ramos Umaña

Philosophy

Leonardo Ruiz Gómez

Philosophy

Luis Xavier López-Farjeat

Philosophy

María Elena García Pelaez Cruz

Philosophy

María Valeria Sonna

Philosophy

Mauricio Lecón Rosales

Philosophy

Virginia Aspe Armella

Philosophy
Meet Our Faculty
Graduate Programs

International Visiting Scholars

  1. Stephan Marchand (Sorbonne University, Paris, FR)
  2. Monte Johnson (University of California, USA)
  3. Pierre Destrée (UCLouvain, Belgium)
  4. Steven Harvey (Bar-Ilan University, Israel)
  5. Étienne Helmer (University of Puerto Rico)
  6. Xavier Gheerbrant (Sichuan University, China)
  7. Adolfo Roitman (Jerusalem Museum)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

No. Although these fields attract broad interest, the program is designed to train advanced researchers in ancient philosophy. Admission is therefore limited to applicants with an academic background in philosophy, classics, or history.

Because the program regularly hosts visiting professors, the class schedule may vary from semester to semester. The program generally schedules seminars and academic activities Monday through Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. This does not mean that classes are held every day or throughout the entire time frame; rather, except in special circumstances, sessions are scheduled within those hours.

The program is fully on campus.

The program is offered exclusively at the Mixcoac campus in Mexico City.

RVOE AND DATE OF AUTHORIZATION

RVOE: 20230089, dated August 30, 2024; On-campus format; Augusto Rodin, No. 498, Col. Insurgentes Mixcoac, Postal Code 03920, Benito Juárez, Mexico City

USEFUL LINKS

Regulations

CONTACT

Dr. Mauricio Lecón Rosales

Director of Graduate Programs

Talib Zamudio Neme, M.A.

Graduate Admissions Coordinator
WA — +52 1 55 4193 8748