Gonzalo Letelier is a Chilean legal scholar and academic leader whose intellectual trajectory is rooted in a solid interdisciplinary formation in philosophy, education, and law. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Philosophy and a Bachelor of Education from Adolfo Ibáñez University, as well as a Doctor of Law degree from the University of Padua (Italy). With more than twenty years of experience in teaching and research, he has also served as Academic Director of the Centre for General Studies at the University of the Andes and currently holds the position of Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Communications.
Letelier’s intellectual work is firmly situated within the classical tradition of legal and political philosophy, with a particular emphasis on Aristotelian-Thomistic thought. His research explores the foundations of legal normativity, the relationship between law and moral reasoning, and the role of practical reason in shaping just legal orders. He has consistently argued against reductive or purely procedural accounts of law, defending instead an understanding of legal systems as rational practices oriented toward justice and the common good.
A recurring theme in his scholarship is the question of legal authority and its limits, especially in pluralistic societies marked by moral disagreement. Topics such as conscience, constitutional legitimacy, and the ethical boundaries of state power feature prominently in his work, always approached through careful philosophical analysis rather than ideological assertion.
As a teacher, Letelier is widely recognized for his commitment to rigorous intellectual formation. He promotes close engagement with classical texts alongside critical discussion of contemporary legal problems, encouraging students to view law not merely as a technical discipline but as an inherently moral and rational enterprise. His intellectual biography thus reflects a sustained effort to integrate philosophical depth with legal practice and academic leadership.