DIREITO SOCIAL, COMPAIXÃO E DIGNIDADE HUMANA NO ABOLICIONISMO BRASILEIRO: UMA ANÁLISE DAS NOVAS SENSIBILIDADES SOCIAIS E JURÍDICAS NO PENSAMENTO INTELECTUAL DA DÉCADA DE 1880

Abstract

The main objective of this dissertation is to analyze the new sensitivities built from the end of the 19th century and which began to consider enslaved blacks as human beings, people dignified for rights and freedom, mainly regarding their legal and social status. For this, are used the theoretical and methodological tools of the History of Sciences and History of Sensibilities so texts and images produced by abolitionist militants and intellectuals involved in the construction of these new sensitivities speeches can be understood, among these intelectuals José do Patrocínio, Joaquim Nabuco and André Rebouças are specially spotted. This dissertation concentrates its frame between 1879 and 1888, a moment in which the abolitionist movement got empowered with a reformist environment influenced by “new ideas” which came from abroad. The objective is to understand the construction of ideas, narratives and representations built by the abolitionist movements, along with their strategies and practices, covering international movements and the characteristics (and needs) of the Brazilians who worked in this type of abolitionism, literate, mostly white men. At the same time, it is also a matter of interest to analyze the rhetorical changes in the abolitionist movement, both in the one from abroad and the national,so does the discussion on the issue of national dignity and other arguments of the movement constant in the work of intellectuals and militants.