An analysis of a Mexican essay by Samuel Ramos attempts to resolve the issue of whether or not there is a common philosophy in Latin America today. Manuel Mendoza concludes that no such philosophy exists, because the area has not had time to develop an internal character, and as a result, the intellectual and and philosophical concepts are based wholly on European ideals. Many artists in present-day Latin America are finding the means and resources to create a national philosophy. In Mexico, the revolution of 1910 uprooted the indigenous foundation and incorporated it into the prevailing culture borrowed from Europe. Mexican artists feel the effects of an exploding national spirit. Samuel Ramos' essay on the Mexicans and Mexican culture is considered to be an important milestone toward achieving a national, indigenous philosophy because (1) it is in essay form, a genre most advantageous for expounding a philosophy; (2) it is written in Spanish, a language which lends itself more readily to literary moods than to scientific or technical treatises; and (3) it recognizes the predominance of the European culture and admits to the need for assimilating local traditions into the cultural mainstream. (DS)