Intelligere, Journal of Intellectual History, is a biannual, electronic, trilingual (Portuguese, Spanish, English) scientific journal dedicated to the studies of Intellectual History and the History of Ideas. Intelligere publishes original articles, interviews, book reviews, research news in progress, translations, and documentary sources relevant to intellectual history.
Universidade de São Paulo / Centro Interunidades de Historia da Ciencia
Autores que publicam em Intelligere concordam com os seguintes termos: Autores mantém os direitos autorais e concedem à revista o direito de primeira publicação, com o trabalho simultaneamente licenciado sob a Licença Creative Commons Attribution que permite o compartilhamento do trabalho com reconhecimento da autoria e publicação inicial nesta revista. Autores têm autorização para assumir contratos adicionais separadamente, para distribuição não-exclusiva da versão do trabalho publicada nesta revista (ex.: publicar em repositório institucional ou como capítulo de livro), com reconhecimento de autoria e publicação inicial nesta revista. Autores têm permissão e são estimulados a publicar e distribuir seu trabalho online (ex.: em repositórios institucionais ou na sua página pessoal), com reconhecimento da autoria e publicação inicial nesta revista.
Announced Tragedy: Julien Benda and the (re) turn of the treason of intellectuals
In this article, I will indirectly revisit Julien Benda's emblematic work entitled The Treason of the Intellectuals, from 1927, as a way of raising the question that will guide the text: are we witnessing a return of the treason of intellectuals today? If so, what form does it take? This article has three parts. In the first, I contextualize the work and show how the identification initially postulated by Benda between philosopher and intellectual generates an important dissociation and a subversion of the concept of intellectual. In the second part, I explore the implications of this subversion and point to Benda's defense of democracy in the post-war context. In the third part, I explore the signs of the treason of intellectuals today, based on specific examples of university practices, and I suggest that the current scenario represents the announcement of a tragedy that is already known.
Copyright (c) 2024 Marta Nunes da Costa http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Agnès Varda’s feminist counter-cinema: images of nudity in the reinvention of love
The text aims to characterize the feminist counter-cinema of Agnès Varda in three fiction films, Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962), One sings, the other doesn’t (1976) and Vagabond (1985), based on an interpretative analysis that outlines three categories of images of nudity: literal, existential-metaphorical and cinematographic. The cine-pamphlet Women reply: our body, our sex (1975) summarizes the common proposal of the films and sheds light on their goal: the reinvention of love. This is an exercise in film analysis and philosophical interpretation, in dialogue with studies in history, theory and criticism of cinema, which seeks to characterize a particular form of feminist counter-cinema.
Copyright (c) 2024 Fernanda Albuquerque de Almeida http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Public intellectuals: political thought through public communication
The public intellectuals achieved great notoriety during the twentieth century by actively participating in the public discussion, seeking, in general terms, to alert and/ or guide the audience that accompanied them. However, little has been produced (read theorized) about these social critics in the university, even though they are associated with public debate and political thought. The study, therefore, visits the literature regarding this social function seeking to conceptually elaborate its definition. The analysis allows to affirm that the notion of public intellectual is characterised, in synthesis, (1) by the “practice” of social communication, (2) by the concept of engagement and (3) by the application of ideas (distancing itself from mere comment or hunch).
Copyright (c) 2024 Arthur Freire Simões Pires http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The intellectual career of Mário Neme in São Paulo (1930-1960)
This article presents and discusses the intellectual trajectory of Mário Neme in his construction as a polygraph intellectual during his residence in the city of São Paulo from the 1930s to the 1960s. During this period, he became a civil servant, wrote for newspapers, produced short stories, carried out historical research and was part of a network of intellectuals who discussed the historical formation of the state and the country. This research aims to understand the empirical training and network of sociability experienced by Neme and its impact on his work. For this article, I researched periodicals, literary sources and documents from institutions such as the Municipal Historical Archive of São Paulo, the Documentation Center of the Paulista Museum, among others. Concepts and contexts are discussed on the basis of some authors such as Sirinelli (2003), Lahuerta (1999), Darnton (2001), Miceli (2008), among other researchers who discuss the issues dealt with here. The aim is to analyze a fraction of the author's life in which his formation and concerns are latent and demonstrate the richness of the cultural life of that historical moment.
Copyright (c) 2024 Tathianni Cristini da Silva http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
In the mirror, the other: historical urgencies, agreements of memory and sociological synthesis by Júlio de Mesquita Filho (1954)
The text addresses the book “Memories of a revolutionary, notes for a political sociology essay” (1954), by Júlio Mesquita Filho, to problematize the concepts that mobilize it, its adherences and historical affiliations. The theoretical approach is premised on disputes over the meanings of the past, the work of memory and, finally, aims to produce the work on screen as a historical source to problematize the ways in which the memoirist elaborates political legitimacy, outlines conflicts and proposes perspectives of power.
Copyright (c) 2024 Francisco Adriano Leal Macêdo, Glauber Cícero Ferreira Biazo http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
“To the very high and excellent lord...”: a study about sixteenth century dedications
Based on printed books' dedications, this paper studies the relations between intellectuals and nobles in the sixteenth-century European Republic of Letters. It is based on thirty-two dedications from works published between 1531 and 1598. The analysis of the material revealed the following results: a) the dedications are part of a 16th century social institution, the literary patronage; b) this institution has at its core an exchange of homage, given by the intellectual, for protection, retributed by the nobleman. The interpretation of these findings led to conclude that the practice of dedicating books was both a device to reinforce the status of the nobles and a strategy for intellectuals to ascend in their careers. All this shows that the sixteenth-century dedication is a privileged document for the social history of ideas and intellectuals in the Cinquecento.
Copyright (c) 2024 Saulo Vinicius Souza Barbosa http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Copyright (c) 2023 Equipe Editorial http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The “crisis of history” and its discourse in the 19th and 20th centuries: the diagnosis of Ernst Troeltsch and Hayden White
This article seeks to address and problematize the evolution of a discourse on the “crisis of history” that developed at the end of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century. The analysis focuses on two fundamental articles written by Ernst Troeltsch and Hayden White, namely, “The Crisis of Historicism” (1922) and “The Burden of History” (1966). The discussion around the “crisis of history” reveals deep concerns about the nature of the historical discipline and the significant changes that have occurred in relation to its conception, practice, and purpose. In this article, the texts cited above are analyzed as manifestos and diagnoses of their respective times. However, it is argued, they are fundamentally linked as testimonies of the crisis of historicism.
Copyright (c) 2024 Murilo Gonçalves http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
On infantile gesture in the first poetry of Hilda Hilst and Eglê Malheiros (or: the 1950’s, a propaedeutic)
This paper analyses Hilda Hilst's first three poems of poems – Omen, Alzira's ballad and Festival ballad – and the first one of Eglê Malheiros – Mourning – asking what they keep up from child gesture as a literary power. To this aim, it situates them in the 1950s, when they were published, paying attention to the intellectual movement in which they insert themselves, as well as of the first critical reception of Hilst's work, the one of Lygia Fagundes Telles. From these considerations, the understanding of existentialism and Marxism, respectively in Hilst and Malheiros’ work are put in question to observe as, from the conflict with these theoretical postulates, the children's gesture appears as a strong enough aesthetic power to be able to frame the epoche. The paper concludes pointing out the permanence of in-fance in the writers' work at the second half of the twentieth century.
Copyright (c) 2023 Natan Schmitz Kremer, Alexandre Fernandez Vaz http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Copyright (c) 2023 Estevão C. de Rezende Martins http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
This paper proposes two criteria for the credibility of religion, where “religion” is understood as a belief system. We distinguish between scientific (SBS) and religious belief systems (RBS) and focus on them in this study, although we do not rule out others like metaphysical ones or world views. The criteria consist of two theses and two norms. The two theses defend the proposal that for every particular belief system there is an upper bound and a lower bound for the credibility of it. The upper bound (lower bound) is a threshold beyond (below) which a rational justification of this belief system is impossible. Norm 1 says that it should not be required that the degree of credibility of an RBS must be higher than that of any SBS, nor notably higher than the upper bound of some SBS. Norm 2 says that if it is required that the level required for the credibility of an SBS must be higher than or equal to the lower bound of it, then this must also be required for an RBS otherwise there are too few or weak reasons for its credibility. Unless both norms are fulfilled, a rational justification of the respective belief system is impossible. The norms are understood as methodological norms of the respective belief system.
Copyright (c) 2023 Paul Weingartner http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Copyright (c) 2023 Wolfgang Röd http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Moral and political dilemmas at the time of the coronavirus pandemic
In this paper I propose a philosophical analysis of serious moral and politicaldilemmas we have been confronted with during the period of the pandemic of Covid-19, before and after the availabiity of vaccines. I draw on a variety of normative theories, mostly from moral philosophy, and try to provide a comparative assessment of the application of consequentialist and deontological principles, as well as of concepts of virtue ethics, with a view to highlighting their complementarity.
Copyright (c) 2023 Stelios Virvidakis http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Singularity and Coordination Problems: Pandemic Lessons from 2020
Are there any indications that a Technological Singularity may be on the horizon? In trying to answer these questions, the authors made a small introduction to the area of safety research in artificial intelligence. The authors review some of the current paradigms in the development of autonomous intelligent systems, searching for evidence that may indicate the coming of a possible Technological Singularity. Finally, the authors present a reflection using the COVID-19 pandemic, something that showed that global society's biggest problem in managing existential risks is its lack of coordination skills as a global society.
Copyright (c) 2023 Nythamar de Oliveira, Nicholas Kluge Corrêa http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Propuesta para una dimensión social de la Globalización en tiempos de pandemia: ¿Podemos contribuir a un desarrollo del proceso de Globalización que sea más ético y socialmente sostenible?
The aim of this paper is to offer a conceptualisation of the process of contemporary globalisation from the perspective of a theoretical-practical reflection, i.e., from universally accepted and shared values. universally accepted and shared values, which in turn lead to a socially robust development of globalisation. socially robust development of globalisation and good "governance" of globalisation, not based on globalisation centred not on utopias, but on solving people's real problems through agreements and contracts. people's real problems through agreements and contracts. It also discusses the new concept of "and how the covid-19 pandemic, which is "globalised," is having health, economic and social is having health, economic and social consequences, full of uncertainty as never experienced before and posing major global challenges for us.
National and international agreements/contracts
Copyright (c) 2023 Nicanor Ursua http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
In this article I intend to discuss the issue of supposed natural disasters from a moral perspective. To do this, I first intend to analyse the very concept of natural disaster, distinguishing between descriptive judgements about natural events and evaluative judgements, which would involve a negative interpretation of the occurrence of certain natural events. Next, I intend to analyse the responsibility of human beings in the face of the negative consequences of such events. In doing so, I intend to analyse some of the life choices made by human beings, their inherent risk and our moral commitment to preventing natural events whose consequences could be disastrous. In conclusion, I intend to outline some of the moral and political measures needed to prevent disasters and point, if not to a solution, at least to a more responsible and committed way of life.
Copyright (c) 2023 Maria Clara Dias http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Utilitarianism, with special reference to Classical Utilitarianism, has been considered a Theory of Law that suffers from the defects of an empiricist and positivist interpretation. As such, it would not have an answer to some questions that ask about abstract issues concerning the foundations of the legal order. The aim of this text is to argue that this claim is unfounded.
Copyright (c) 2023 Luis Alberto Peluso http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
What is a theoretical sentence? Structure and systematic implications of an elementary never adequately thematised
This essay deals with a topic that is apparently marginal and completely neglected by philosophers of all stripes, namely the structure and systematic relevance of theoretical sentences. The central explanatory concept is the concept of theoretical operator applied to sentences.
Copyright (c) 2023 Lorenz B. Puntel http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Historism – Partisanship - Racism: On the Erosion of the Epistemic Foundations of Knowledge
Often referred to as “historism”, historical-cultural relativism in its variant dating back to the 19th century has often been interpreted as an expression of a weak and insecure attitude, and has been opposed above all by the two great totalitarian movements of the 20th century. Against the more recent historism, postmodernism and its demands for tolerance, which are supposedly only of use to the ruling class, its opponents proclaim values, moral norms and cognitive criteria that are closely linked to the ethnicity and race of these critics. Even cognitive universality is mere ideology for them.
Copyright (c) 2023 Karl Acham http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A (retired) philosophy lecturer, honouring a colleague, also retired, reflects on the philosophy-school articulation, based on an analysis of the teaching of philosophy at the Faculty of Letters of Lisbon, namely between 1957-2000. In conclusion, he points to the permanence of the legacy of Greek philosophy in the disciplinary architecture of the Western school, in the science/philosophy challenge, the resilience of which is responsible for energising/overcoming the culture that has dominated the Western school - a laboratory of reductive scientific and technical rationality.
Copyright (c) 2023 Joaquim Cerqueira Golçalves http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Fora da história não há salvação? Filosofia da história no início do século 21
UnB, uma universidade inovadora: Relações Internacionais como campo de estudo no Brasil
International Relations as a field of study was introduced to Brazilianuniversities by the University of Brasilia in 1974. This essay presents and analyzes of such an experience of establishing a new academic field of studies in Brazilian universities and in the intellectual environment of a country which was going through remarkable economic, political, and social changes.
Science and University Teaching in Brazil
Copyright (c) 2023 Eiiti Sato http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Although it is incontrovertible that there is an intimate relation between theoretical science and technological progress, the relation is persistently misrepresented. What is especially poorly understood is how indirect is the application in technology and engineering of scientific laws. This is not to diminish the importance of the service performed by theoretical science for technology, but to locate it correctly. It allows us also to identify the sense in which technology is an application of science, and to explain how it partakes fully in its rationality.
Copyright (c) 2023 David Miller http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
This text proposes the consideration of Analytic Philosophy as the heir of ancient and modern sceptical questions in its discussion above all in the field of epistemology. We then follow the hypothesis that at the beginning of Modernity the return to ancient scepticism led to the development of modern scepticism, which in turn paved the way for the anti-dogmatism and critical thinking characteristic of contemporary Analytic Philosophy.
Copyright (c) 2023 Danilo Marcondes http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Berkeley and the empty clock. An exercise in the philosophy of science
In this article I argue, contrary to what is commonly held, that Berkeley formulated and systematically pursued throughout his philosophical career, from the juvenile Notebooks to his last major work, Siris, a coherent and unified project for natural philosophy, whose metaphysical foundations were the immateriality and causal inactivity of bodies, derived, in their turn, from a strictly empiricist theory of knowledge. Taking the cue offered by his treatment of the issue of the apparent irregularity of certain natural phenomena, I endeavour to show that in his own philosophical system we can find adequate resources to cope with the difficulties, often pointed out in the literature, for seeing Berkeley as effectively implementing his main goal, as announced in the subtitles of the Principles and the Three Dialogues, namely, to inquire into “the main causes of error and difficulties in the sciences”, in order that they are rendered “more easy, useful and compendious”. Notwithstanding the potential risk of anachronism, I suggest, as an analytical tool for examining the Berkeleyan project, some tentative parallels between this project and the way in which philosophers of science have been discussing the issue of scientific realism since the inception of modern science, in the seventeenth century.
Copyright (c) 2023 Silvio Seno Chibeni http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Reflexiones sobre la metodología de la filosofía
Se defiende la tesis metafilosófica de que las tres principales áreas de cualquier reflexión filosófica son: la ontología, la epistemología y la semántica (filosófica). Hasta cierto punto, ellas pueden ser tratadas independientemente las unas de las otras, pero a partir de cierto nivel de complejidad en el análisis, hay que tomar en cuenta sus relaciones mutuas.
Copyright (c) 2023 C. Ulises Moulines http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
New world order: opportunities and challenges for Lusophony
In this work, the emerging new world order is first approached from a historical perspective, taking into account the two World Wars, the consequent multilateralism, the emergence of the bipolar world after World War II and the Rise and decline of the Unipolar World under US Hegemony. Next, the political and economic strength of China and Russia, the new global players that will dominate the structuring of the new world order together with the USA, is described. In this context, the possible influence of China and Russia in Portuguese-speaking countries, especially those located in Africa and Brazil, is focused. In the end, it is discussed to what extent Lusophony can and should become a global power, and the CPLP (Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries) as an expression of this power, must fit into the new world order. The assumptions of this framework are discussed and require, in addition to a very strong unity of Portuguese-speaking countries, a foreign policy strategy to articulate and translate the Portuguese-speaking force into an integrated approach and make its economic and institutional force flow into a new world policy.
Copyright (c) 2023 Aurobindo Xavier http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0