Fantasy-Laden Thinking in the Brazilian Decivilising Process

Norbert Elias demonstrated that decivilising processes can be accompanied by an increase in the degree of fantasy-laden thinking, which may or may not be associated with a less realistic orientation of actions (and consequently an increase in threats posed by nature and by humans). In Brazil, the rise of the far-right was marked by an increase in various types of anti-science discourse. This research investigates the conception of knowledge proposed by one of the main figures of anti-science discourses — the far-right guru with strong traditionalist and esoteric tendencies, Olavo de Carvalho — and how his followers have incorporated this view.

Having been the leader of a Sufi sect and imminent astrology teacher, Carvalho has achieved unprecedented influence on Brazilian public opinion during the far-right rise through his best-selling books, his close relation to President Bolsonaro, the use of social media and, most importantly for this research, his “Online Philosophy Course” that had more than ten thousand students, most of whom became his loyal followers.

The research to be presented (that is still in progress) has two levels: first, understanding of his discourse towards science, which was shown to be deeply grounded in a magical-mythical conception of reality. The second level aims to investigate, through interviews with his former students, how they incorporated these principles. The presentation will focus on the results and analysis of these interviews, whose main objective is to investigate how this fantasy-laden discourse was appropriated by them and whether it changed the behavior and the orientation of these individuals' actions over time towards a less reality-congruent manner - aiming to contribute to a broader understanding of the recent rise in science rejection in Brazil.