Vulgarização e triunfo das ciências: a imprensa científica na segunda metade do século XIX

Abstract

During the second half of the nineteenth century, not only in Europe, but also in America, occurred a change in the cultural paradigm that lifted up the science as the noblest of the human achievements. Inserted in this modernizing context of the cult of science, the men of letters who discoursed about science in the periodicals looked for to disseminate the seed of technical-scientific knowledge to the whole population. Such vulgarizing practices had as a background a civilizing project that linked not only the material development but also the moral development of nineteenth-century society. This dissertation starts of this universe and aims to approach the similarities of the periodicals that aimed to popularize the science during the second half of the nineteenth century, from ideas, beliefs and common themes. By rescuing the discourses, the linguistic repertoire and the interests disseminated in this press, it is possible to capture a connection of the periodicals that shared the same scientific culture, despite the heterogeneity of the publications. All these scientific journals that manifested themselves in different ways were immersed in a sociocultural ocean, which aimed the science as a moral progress of the society. In addition, we will promote the analysis of the interaction of this press with society. In the intention to encourage the technical and scientific application, the press has opened a way to contact with their readers in order to establish as a medium for the people to present their inventions, machines and industries.