Abstract

ORTIZ DAVILA, Juan Pablo. Conservative humanism: classic literature and politics at mid-nineteenth century. Sig. his [online]. 2014, vol.16, n.31, pp.39-87. ISSN 1665-4420.

This article examines the complex relationships between the political struggle of liberals against conservatives and school curricula at the federal level. In this context, it addresses the question of how the teaching of classical literature entered the dynamic of opposition between the political groups of the moment. The research shows the way that conservatives took classical literature and humanities as the basis of its own cultural project, while the liberals opted for a more scientific and technological education with a strong practical sense. All in all, I conclude that the cultural context played a significant role when trying to successfully build a national project in mid-nineteenth century Mexico.

Keywords : conservatism; literature; classical studies; politics; humanism.