O personalismo de Emmanuel Mounier: uma filosofia de ação em resposta a um período de crise humanitária

Abstract

This dissertation examines the thought of Emmanuel Mounier, focusing on the emergence of personalism as a philosophical response to European nihilism, which was marked by the humanitarian and moral crises that dominated the first five decades of the 20th century. This period—characterized by world wars, economic crises, and technological advancements—contributed, according to Mounier, to the degradation of human dignity. Based on this, the study seeks to understand how Mounier and his personalism position themselves in the face of this decline, proposing a renewal of human and communal relations centered on the person and their dignity. Aiming to highlight the uniqueness of personalism in comparison to other schools of thought of the time, the research also seeks to show how Mounier criticized nihilism and its consequences, such as police states, wars, and spiritual alienation, developing personalism as an active alternative to confront these crises. Thus, the overall goal of this research is to examine the humanitarian fragility identified by Mounier at the beginning of the 20th century—a period already influenced by conflicts and transformations since the previous century. Personalism is presented as a philosophical response to these crises, offering an alternative in the face of the challenges of the era. Furthermore, the research will explore the philosophical structure of personalism, encompassing its anthropology and political philosophy. The study has three specific objectives: (i) to analyze the historical context of the early 20th-century crises and their impact on human relations from Mounier's perspective; (ii) to investigate how personalism can restore human dignity and promote communal coexistence; and (iii) to explore the influences and distinctiveness of Mounier’s personalism, culminating in the proposal developed throughout its formulation. Finally, the methodology adopted is bibliographical and exploratory, with critical analysis of the works of Mounier and other thinkers, contextualizing the development of their ideas amidst the sociopolitical and humanitarian crises of the 20th century.