Visions of Descartes, by Olavo de Carvalho

Olavo de Carvalho gathers in this book the essentials of what he has taught about René Descartes in his courses and conferences. Convinced that philosophy does not arise from a taste for abstract reasoning, but from the impulse to apprehend and express the universal meaning of accessible experience, the author leads us to a return from Descartes’s ideas to the real experiences that originated them. This method does not aim to provide a psychological explanation of a philosophy, but to clarify the effective meaning that the ideas had in the individual consciousness of the philosopher who conceived them, beyond – and beneath – the formal and dictionary sense they acquired throughout the philosophical tradition. For Olavo de Carvalho, Descartes’s philosophy is not an abstract system of ideas, but a cognitive drama.

Boethius’s First Commentary on Aristotle’s On Interpretation

Boethius’s first commentary on Aristotle’s “On Interpretation” aims to provide a deeper understanding of the book’s complex content and make it more accessible to readers. Boethius acknowledges the high regard that Aristotle’s work holds within the Peripatetic school, particularly in its meticulous examination of simple propositions. However, he also recognizes that the text presents difficulties and intricate judgments, making it challenging to comprehend easily. To address these challenges, Boethius has added two layers of commentary to supplement the interpretation of the book. By unraveling the concise and cryptic discourse, Boethius aims to bring clarity to the fundamental concepts of sentences. While some aspects require a deeper level of insight, which will be addressed in a subsequent series, Boethius assures readers that they can expect to grasp the material gradually by following the order of the text and the flow of the speech. Overall, Boethius’s first commentary intends to facilitate a step-by-step understanding of the content hidden within the brevity of Aristotle’s work.

Self-consciousness, by Louis Lavelle

The title of this book is “La conscience de soi”, which could be rendered most literally as “the consciousness of one’s self”, or more idiomatically as “self-consciousness” or “self-awareness”. Due to the constant uses of “consciousness” throughout the book which could not be very aptly rendered “awareness”, I went with the former. French does not have separate words for “conscience” and “consciousness”, but the latter sense is clearly indicated by speaking of “(consciousness) of” something, namely yourself.

Elements of Olavo de Carvalho’s Philosophy, by Ronald Robson

“Elements of Olavo de Carvalho’s Philosophy”, by Ronald Robson, provides a comprehensive overview of the key principles and concepts in the philosophical framework developed by Olavo de Carvalho. The work emphasizes the significance of individual consciousness as the foundation of knowledge, going beyond traditional subject-object distinctions. Olavo’s philosophy explores the complex layers of personality and the process of self-awareness, proposing a theory of twelve distinct layers that shape an individual’s development. The book delves into the role of confession and the method of extrusion in integrating personal experiences and articulating them through language.

The text also delves into the theory of four discourses, drawing inspiration from Aristotle’s work, to understand different modes of human communication. Olavo’s philosophy encompasses the investigation of reality and the world of principles, aiming to uncover the metaphysical foundations that govern existence. The author explores the importance of knowledge through presence, training consciousness to allow reality to speak to it, and advocates for cultural criticism as a means to challenge symbolic and political structures that limit individual consciousness.

Furthermore, the book delves into the concepts of cognitive parallax and the revolutionary mentality, highlighting their impact on intellectual understanding and social dynamics. Olavo’s political theory is presented, focusing on power as the ability to determine the actions of others, and identifying economic, military, and intellectual powers as essential aspects. The text concludes by emphasizing the significance of individual consciousness and self-awareness in Olavo’s philosophy, as well as the role of traditions, esoteric organizations, and intellectual orders as shaping forces in history.

Overall, “Elements of Olavo de Carvalho’s Philosophy” provides a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the key ideas and principles within Olavo’s philosophical framework, encompassing metaphysics, epistemology, and political theory. It offers valuable insights into the nature of knowledge, individual development, communication, and societal dynamics, making it a significant contribution to the understanding of Olavo’s philosophical perspectives. After the end we have a list of references, which has been left untranslated, as most of the works have not been translated into English yet.

The Posthumous Man, by Mário Ferreira dos Santos

This is a book about Nietzsche by Mário Ferreira dos Santos. The title of the book in Portuguese was “O Homem Que Nasceu Póstumo”, or literally, “The Man Who Was Born Posthumous”. It is named after the famous quote by Nietzsche from his book “The Anti-Christ”, in which he said that “some men are born posthumously”. The thing is that in Portuguese, this quote is typically rendered “alguns homens nascem póstumos”, i.e., “some men are born posthumous”, with the adjective rather than the adverb. (Which, as far as I know, is equally allowed by the German, “Einige werden posthum geboren”.)

The subtle change in sense given by this common rendering into Portuguese, however, may be highlighted by the fact that, in quotation (rather than translation), people sometimes insert the word “já” after “homens”, giving the sense that “some men are already born posthumous”, or, some men are already posthumous at their birth. It conveys a sense of being fated, since your birth, to be “posthumous”, i.e., to be only known from your remains. It’s not that “the discovery of your remains is your true birth”, but rather that you were a “posthumous person” throughout your whole life, since you were born. It puts quite a different emphasis on Nietzsche’s meaning.

Pythagoras and the Theme of Number, by Mário Ferreira dos Santos

“God made the integers, all the rest is the work of men” (Kroneker).

“I am everything that has been, and everything that will be, and no mortal has ever lifted my veil” (Isis, according to the inscription of Sais, reported by Plutarch).

Logic and Dialectic, by Mário Ferreira dos Santos

Modern philosophy has repositioned the logical problem, influenced by Kant’s criticism and Hegel’s dialectical contributions. Despite being overlooked and subject to derogatory criticism, Dialectics has made significant contributions to logical categories and science. This book explores Formal Logic, General Dialectics, and Decadialectics, adhering to certain norms. Formal Logic is briefly covered as its achievements are considered definitive, while new possibilities within the field, including phenomenological analysis, will be explored in “Philosophical Themes and Problems.” Dialectics, a growing discipline, requires answers to emerging questions. General Dialectics encompasses various important themes and necessitates investigations in other fields, acknowledging the influence of sensory, somatic, and affective aspects. Hegelian thought and dialectical perspective are relevant to philosophy, leading to the construction of a comprehensive worldview. This volume focuses on general aspects and introduces Decadialectics, aiming to coordinate existing dialectical structures. Other works will delve into specific dialectical topics. The methodology presented in this book enables comprehensive analyses while recognizing the partial role of formal logic. Dialectics is a logic of existence and becoming, encompassing oppositions without excluding formal logic.