Enrique José Varona is remembered not only as a great educator but also as a pioneer of psychology in Cuba. He was born in Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe on April 13, 1849. Given his contribution to this emerging science in the country, this date was chosen in 2004 to celebrate Cuban Psychology Day each year.
His studies in Philosophy and Letters provided him with a vast cultural background that later allowed him to delve into the field of Pedagogy, enriched by the most recent theories on psychology worldwide. In fact, he granted education a decisive and fundamental role in the development of society, which is why much of his work leans toward pedagogy, with a social and progressive focus.
He developed his scientific studies from various fields and disciplines; for example, in his writings on Pedagogy, he also alluded to Philosophy and, of course, to advances in Psychology, becoming one of the most renowned thinkers in Cuba and throughout Latin America.
As a legacy of his predecessor, Félix Varela, he worked on modernizing education in Cuba, this time with the influence of more experimental approaches. For this task, he founded the Chair of Pedagogy and Psychology at the University of Havana, uniting both sciences for a common purpose.
Under this school, the most important theories of the time were introduced to the country, namely Structuralism, Functionalism, and Experimental Psychology. He was also the first holder of the Chair of Moral Philosophy, Sociology, and Psychology.
Certainly, José Varona’s contribution to such an outstanding science allowed for significant advances for the profession in our country, which is why he deserves tribute on every day of celebration of Psychology in Cuba, of which he is considered an indisputable promoter.
