Maximiliano Gutiérrez is an International Student Advisor at the University of Texas at El Paso. He completed a master’s in philosophy at UTEP. His areas of interest are political philosophy and phenomenology. He is currently working on the ethical and phenomenological implications of immigration in the Ciudad Juarez/El Paso border drawing on the work of Hannah Arendt. He plans to continue working on political phenomenology while pursuing a Ph.D.
What is your favorite thing that you’ve written?
My favorite writing would be my MA Thesis. I was fortunate enough to work on a topic that I am passionate about. The title of my thesis is “Hannah Arendt and the Recreation of the Public Space at the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez Border” and it is soon to be published. What I am trying to do in my thesis is to understand the intricacies of the U.S.-Mexico border and the people who dwell in the borderlands. In order to do this, I draw from different sources such as Arendt’s understanding of phenomenology and the public space. The border, which materialized in a 20-foot steel wall, is lived and understood differently by an immigrant, asylee, refugee, or even a long-time dweller of the border. Ultimately, I conclude that current structures need to be more welcoming to newcomers. Which in turn can bring new life to the border.
What are you working on right now?
Currently, I am immersing myself in immigration law. This way I can better understand what newcomers (immigrants) at the U.S.-Mexico border face when they arrive. Furthermore, this has led me to do more research in Latin-American philosophy. Ultimately, my intention is to write about the deep-rooted causes of immigration in Latin America. This research aligns perfectly with my interest in history. By understanding the historical complexities of ‘recently independent countries’ during the 19th century along with ‘other countries interventions’ during the 20th century, we can discover the deep-rooted causes of the recent waves of immigration.
What do you like to do outside work?
During my free time I like to exercise, specifically, I like to swim. I am not the best, but I am improving my freestyle swimming every day. Doing exercise is a way for me to relax and clear my mind to continue working. Also, I am a big fan of video games, and as of right now I am obsessed with Elden Ring.
What is your favorite book of all time? (Or top 3). Why? To whom would you recommend them?
My favorite book of all time is Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. The story of a creature who learns to read and shapes his own perspective through the books he read. The books he read were Milton’s Paradise Lost, portions of Plutarch’s Lives, and Goethe’s Sorrows of Young Werther. After I read Frankenstein, I read the three books that I mentioned because I wanted to better understand the reasoning behind the actions of the creature. I highly recommend this book to all, it is a great story. It is a simple example of how influenced we are by what we read.
What are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
Right now, I am reading a book called “Redentores: Ideas y Poder en America Latina” (Redeemers: Ideas and Power in Latin America) by Enrique Krauze. It is a great book that serves as an introduction to the ideas of great thinkers from different Latin-American countries. This book discusses thinkers such as Jose Vasconcelos, Jose Carlos Mariategui, Eva Peron, and many others.
Who is your favorite philosopher and why?
My favorite philosopher, as you may imagine by my MA thesis title, is Hannah Arendt. She shaped my way of thinking and understanding the world. My first encounter with her work was back in 2014 when I was studying philosophy in a Catholic seminary. I was fascinated by her concept of ‘Banality of Evil.’ Since then, I always go back to her thinking. On whatever I am working on I can see how her thinking can help or even falls short but complements a certain part of my research. As mentioned in my bio, my goal is to get a Ph.D. I know for sure that she will be part of my road to a doctorate.
This section of the APA Blog is designed to get to know our fellow philosophers a little better. We’re including profiles of APA members that spotlight what captures their interest not only inside the office, but also outside of it. We’d love for you to be a part of it, so please contact us via the interview nomination form here to nominate yourself or a friend.
Dr. Sabrina D. MisirHiralall is an editor at the Blog of the APA who currently teaches philosophy, religion, and education courses solely online for Montclair State University, Three Rivers Community College, and St. John’s University.
