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Cited by 1Epistemology, Ethics, and MetaphysicsLatin American history and cultureIndigenous Studies in Latin America

Knowledge as creative vision in Maya Philosophy

McLeod, Alexus·2025·British Journal for the History of Philosophy
DOI 10.1080/09608788.2025.2540796
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Abstract

In this paper, I offer an account of a conception of knowledge found throughout the philosophical traditions of the Maya, which are linked to ideas in the broader cluster of related traditions of Mesoamerica. This unique conception of knowledge is based on creativity, vision, and the centrality of human activity in bringing about, maintaining, and understanding the intelligible world. For the precolonial and colonial period Maya, knowledge was understood as both a creative ability and as an ability to access aspects of the world that are not normally available to humans. Philosophers often discuss propositional knowledge (‘knowing that’) and skill knowledge (‘knowing how’). Instances of such knowledge include everyday things, such as knowing that one has a hand or knowing how to play the guitar. The Maya tradition was largely unconcerned with knowledge in these senses, likely because given their metaphysics (which I discuss below), there is no particular problem presented for everyday knowledge in the way we see in Indo-European traditions, in which the problem of scepticism became a concern.

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Authors
McLeod, A.
Affiliations
Indiana University Bloomington (US)
Corresponding author
McLeod, Alexus
Venue
British Journal for the History of Philosophy
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2025-09
Volume
33
Issue
6
Pages
1470-1494
ISSN
  • 0960-8788 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-3526
DOI
10.1080/09608788.2025.2540796
OpenAlex
W4413877409
Cited by
1
References
20
Citations by year
2025: 1
FWCI
8.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
British Journal for the History of Philosophy (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Visual Arts and Performing Arts › Latin American history and culture
  • Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Indigenous Studies in Latin America
Keywords
conceptions of knowledge, creativity, vision, human activities, intelligible world, knowing that, knowing how, metaphysics, skepticism

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