“Colonialism” and “Telluric Bond” in the Work of Carlos Astrada

Abstract

This article aims to trace the concepts of “colonialism” and “telluric bond” in the work of Carlos Astrada. To do this, we will do an exegesis of the book The Gaucho Myth, published in 1948, where our author makes a philosophy of Argentina in light of his interpretation of Martín Fierro in the era of splendor of the Perón government. Then we will interpret the works that date from his departure from Peronism and his interest in Latin American philosophy such as “Myth, Time and Historicity” where our author begins to show his analysis of other literary pieces such as the Chilam Balam of the Mayan culture. And his conference titled “Latin American Philosophy as an Exponent of an Autonomous Culture” where he raises the need for an emancipation of European thought. Along these lines, we will analyze the text Marxism and Eschatologies, from 1957 where he recognizes the importance of the Aztec calendar and the Popol Vuh. Around 1963, when he published Land and Figure, we find the expansion of his horizon from the pampas to the jungle and the Andes. In the analysis of the second edition of The Gaucho Myth, we will show how he advocates the construction of a community “gauchocracy”. Finally, we will realize how many of these concepts have been thematized by the next generation of philosophers, especially those who formed the “Philosophy of Liberation” movement.