Houve mão mais poderosa?: a independência do Brasil como momento de passagem à modernidade

Abstract

This work focuses on the Brazilian Independence since the problem of the modern foundation of the political legitimacy and the authority of law. For that purpose, it begins with a general discussion about this problem and the solution for it, materialized in a modern concept of Constitution. Next, it discusses the changes in the experiences of time and in theconfiguration of the public spaces in Brazil at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Based on these considerations, it addresses the issue of sovereignty in the context of the Brazilian Independence, concluding that the problem of modern foundation of political legitimacy and authority of law in the country was faced in terms of a constant and unsolved tension among different conceptions of sovereignty. Finally, it proposes a reflection on the philosophical assumptions present in different narratives of the Brazilian history and exposes the philosophical basis on which it rests.