The government of Porfirio Diaz or "Porfiriato" (1876-1911) was brought to a close by the Mexican Revolution. This was a period of profound social change in Mexican history. The country took huge strides forward in the areas of both infrastructure and communications under a government that, although democratically elected, had grown into a dictatorship with the passing years. This situation not only triggered the Mexican Revolution but had other consequences, notably in groups associated with education and culture.

These consequences included reforms at the National Preparatory School (Escuela Nacional Preparatoria), which, at that time, provided education based on Auguste Comte’s logical positivism, a position that was not in favour with the government, being a philosophy that was considered morally suspect.

Despite government attacks, positivism remained a viable alternative, at least in the field of education. As an important aspect of its consolidation, we emphasize the role of Justo Sierra (1848-1912), a leading writer and politician. The positivist model was promoted by Sierra, but he departed from the Comtean tradition to embrace a clearly Spencerian vision. Sierra was one of the main promoters of the ideas underlying evolution in Mexico, emphasizing not only the influence of Spencer, but also Charles Darwin and John Stuart Mill. In that sense, it is clear that an interaction emerged between the concepts of social science and natural science to the point of consolidating social Darwinism in Mexico.

Based on an analysis of Sierra’s original documents, and materials used to support the educational proposal for the National Preparatory School, we seek to demonstrate the decisive influence that Spencer's ideas had on strengthening the educational model, eventually influencing both national politics and relations with the Catholic Church, the main areas where Sierra’s proposals were rejected.

This presentation is based on work co-authored by Rosaura Ruiz-Gutierrez and Ricardo Noguera-Solano.