Uses of the past: routes through the Philosophy in Brazil

Abstract

In this research we propose to investigate Brazilian philosophical productions from the end of the 19th century until the middle of the 20th century. Starting with texts by Raimundo de Farias Brito, we can see how the polarization between sensualism and spiritualism was reformulated, which in a way guided Brazilian philosophical practice throughout the nineteenth century. From the point of view of historiography, in addi-tion, to the philosophy of Farias Brito is given an inaugural character, although its pro-duction has received quite diversified qualifications. Be it by the so-called Catholic School, whose main representatives would be Leonel Franca, Jackson de Figueiredo, Alceu Amoroso Lima and Fr. Henrique de Lima Vaz; or by the members of the Instituto Brasileiro de Filosofia (IBF), through its many participants, but especially by Miguel Reale, the production of Farias Brito served to multiple interests - which will be investi-gated in this research in what can contribute to the understanding of their own philo-sophical positions. The philosophical contributions grouped around the Instituto Superi-or de Estudos Brasileiros (ISEB) will also be analyzed, mainly through the texts of Ál-varo Vieira Pinto. Finally, we will focus on the works of authors responsible for estab-lishing an understanding of the history of philosophy that, in a certain way, became hegemonic from the mid-20th century: Arthur Versiani Velloso and Lívio Teixeira. (AU)