Juan Donoso Cortés : entre a crítica ao socialismo, ao liberalismo e a defesa do catolicismo

Abstract

Abstract. This work focuses on the writings of Juan Donoso Cortés, a 19th-century Spanish thinker and politician. The hypothesis developed is that Cortés assumes a counter-revolutionary role in response to the liberal movements and the emergence of socialist discourses during the 18th and 19th centuries, primarily based on his Catholic conservatism and his view of history. Grounded in the analysis of his discourse and political history, we explore the literature along with the primary source, “Essay on Catholicism, Liberalism, and Socialism,” written in 1851, where a deep engagement with the revolutionary processes in Europe initiated in the 18th century, the so-called “dual revolution,” is observed. The aim here is to analyze how Cortés constructs his thought, concluding that he indeed positions himself as a counter-revolutionary and conservative thinker and politician, defending traditions and Catholicism based on his view of History, which is centered on three main points: the universalist character of religion for the author; the understanding that the decline of religion signifies the decline of civilization; and the understanding that free will, in contrast to divine providence, is the driving force of History. The liberal and socialist movements are of great importance for understanding the author, as they are his main targets of criticism. Therefore, Juan Donoso Cortés is a crucial figure for understanding the counter-revolution of the 19th century, as his ideas influenced conservative thought in subsequent centuries, being invoked by various other authors.