Herbert Spencer: science and evolution in History of Education manuals in circulation in Brazil (1914-1999)

ABSTRACT This is a communication of research results that examined Herbert Spencer’s ideas disseminated in History of Education manuals in circulation in Brazil between 1914 and 1999, which included, on the one hand, disciplinary manuals with foreign authors that were translated into Portuguese between 1939 and 1999 and, on the other hand, manuals with Brazilian authors published between 1914 and 1989. The main starting point was the ideas of Chartier (1990 and 1999), Chervel (1990), Choppin (2004) and Gatti Jr. (2014). The problem that motivated the investigation was related to the analysis of the different appropriations of Spencer’s ideas contained in the History of Education manuals analyzed. In methodological terms, we started with bibliographical research, through the reading and analysis of works by commentators about Spencer’s philosophical, social and educational ideas, and then by reading and analyzing works written by the author himself. Then, we examined the content related to Spencer’s ideas present in the History of Education manuals published in Portuguese, by comparing Spencerian concepts and categories with the representations of them contained in these History of Education manuals, with an emphasis on three main themes: evolutionism; hierarchy of knowledge; scientific education. We concluded with a reflection about the differences in the representations of Spencer’s ideas contained in the History of Education manuals examined.