His innovative proposal was reviving the idea of School of Philosophy in the Classical Tradition, reintroducing the Socratic method as a search for wisdom and knowledge of the human being.

These schools, in the classical world – the Platonic Academy, the Lyceum of Aristotle, the Neoplatonic School of Alexandria – brought elements of renewal which where useful to guide the difficult times which they experienced. In the second half of the XX century this innovative call came again with profound roots in the classical tradition with a projection into the Third Millenium.

The many facets of Jorge Angel Livraga Rizzi can be seen reflected in his life’s work: the International Organization New Acropolis, which is present today in over 50 countries.

Bring Philosophy closer to practical life

The teaching work of Professor Livraga, as a pioneer and philosopher of the future, has led him to develop numerous facets of the curriculum of the School of Philosophy and, in parallel, to investigate and deepen the comparative study of religions and the various philosophical currents, sociocultural, scientific and artistic.

The main key of this Philosophy as a way of life is found in the Renaissance, beginning with the “inner rebirth of the human being”, according to his own words, a human being in continuous evolution, who asks himself questions about what he sees, what he feels, what he lives, who reflects and searches answers.

Approaching the Philosophy of all times, the legacy of Wisdom of Humanity to all kinds of people, such is the purpose put into action by the Schools of Philosophy “in the classic way”, promoted by Professor Livraga, with a vocation for study but also for action committed to the society and the present, with a vocation for the future. From this point of view, it is undeniable that he can be considered a pioneer of the 21st century.

A New Humanism

Deeply aware of the need for a new eclectic humanism capable of bringing together the great philosophical teachings of East and West, he developed a teaching methodology, especially designed for young people, to enable them to discover in those teachings the major keys to the meaning of existence and the destiny of humanity, as well as learning how to respond to change in an active way.

Understanding culture – the shared roots of all peoples and civilizations – helps to neutralize the threats of materialism and dogmatic irrationality that separate human beings and bring them into conflict with one another.

The Socratic methodology of the School of Philosophy is applied in culture through the practice of dialogue on all levels – between arts, sciences, religions, between human beings and the different cultures and nations that underpin their existence.

Professor Livraga spent his life promoting fraternity amongst individuals and nations, combating the material and moral poverty of his contemporaries and defending the liberty of conscience and expression wherever they were threatened or restricted.

Commitment to Society

Philosophy, when it is put into practice, requires human beings to make a commitment to their times and to the society to which they belong.

We can all do something to make the world better, the founder of New Acropolis used to repeat. The commitment that is born from the freedom of each one is the most valuable, the most enduring, the most necessary, in the midst of confusion and passivity.

That is the value of volunteerism as a method of action.

Bibliographical Notes

  • Professor Jorge Ángel Livraga Rizzi was born in 1930 in Buenos Aires to a family of Italian origin, and obtained Italian nationality in 1975.

  • He studied Medicine, specializing in the Medicine of Ancient India, through the Adyar Section of the Theosophical Society in India.

  • He also obtained a Bachelor’s degree in History of Art and Philosophy from the University of Buenos Aires.

  • At the same time, he received instruction from C. Jinarajadasa and N. Sri Ram, both of whom were presidents of the Worldwide Theosophical Society.

  • In 1957 he founded the School of Philosophy “in the classical tradition” which later became incorporated under the name of International Organization New Acropolis.

  • He devoted the rest of his life to promoting this “spiritual adventure”, building it up through a major effort of teaching and research, and establishing centers, first in Europe and America, and later, from 1977, in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania.

  • He died in Madrid in 1991.

Recognitions

  • In recognition of his work he was awarded the Cross of Paris in Arts, Sciences and Literature in 1976 and admitted to membership of the Burckhardt Academy, amongst other distinctions.

  • In 1951 he won the First National Poetry Prize in Argentina.

  • Jorge Ángel Livraga dedicated his life to the service of the humanistic ideal which inspires and animates us.

  • And on his death he left all his property to our Institution: the house where he was born and his personal collection of objets d’art for the creation of a private collection.

His Works

He published studies on ancient cultures and civilizations, novels, philosophical essays and reflections on the modern world, as well as numerous articles.

One of the guiding principles of the works of Jorge Ángel Livraga was to make knowledge and philosophy available to the widest possible audience.

Consequently, a considerable part of his intellectual output consists of a compilation of his classes and lectures, given on a wide variety of subjects, though always with a unifying thread: the need to awaken the individual consciousness in every human being.

Bibliographical Works

“Magic, Religion and Science for the Third Millennium”. 6 Volumes. Professor Livraga’s reflections on a wide range of subjects and proposed solutions based on practical philosophy.