Notes on the german influences in the santafereña enlightenment. 1762 – 1810

Abstract

This article allows an appreciation of how German influences in the Santafereña enlightenment cannot be examined as a solitary unit through specialized knowledge, but needs to be examined in a wider context. The German influence can be traced as an episode which focused on the productions of certain authors in a sporadic way, conditioned by the needs of the so-called Spanish or Catholic enlightenment. In this sense, it is worthwhile to emphasize the influence of authors such as Christian Wolff, who served to establish the transition between the scholastics and an understanding of modern science; of Heineccio, whose work was determinant in the study of public law; of Humboldt, who with his visit to Santafé contributed to the recognition of the native territory, establishing, besides, a milestone in the formation of native scientists; of Cornelius de Pauw, whose speech about the inferiority of American nature contributed to bind the native element in defense of the virtues of their land.