Critical Validation Of Scientific And Philosophic Metadiscourses In The Work Of Cambaceres, Dario, And Lugones

The present study analyzes the influence, on the work of Eugenio Cambaceres, Ruben Dario, and Leopoldo Lugones of various philosophical and scientific tendencies such as Pythagorean doctrine, Kantian transcendental idealism, Darwinian evolution, and Einsteins theory of relativity. In order to perform said analysis, Kuhns concept of scientific paradigm is extended to include a new type of literary paradigm which serves as the conceptual scheme that frames the discussion. In this manner, the influence of Schopenhauers thought on Cambaceres most important novel Sin rumbo is ascertained while, at the same time, an argument is created that justifies the role of Schopenhauers pessimism on the nihilist undertones in the creation of Argentinian literary naturalism. As pertains to the poetry of Ruben Dario, the role and the extent of its Pythagorean influence is determined while a new understanding of Darios thought is suggested when it is shown that, through the influence of Romanticism, Dario seems to espouse a type of formal transcendental idealism. Finally, in the case of Leopoldo Lugones a new vision of his lifelong relation to science is provided. In doing so some of his most scientific short stories, such as yzur and La fuerza omega, are examined in relation to the scientific knowledge of the time. Given that Lugones holds an eminent place in the history of Argentinean literature as the first writer (perhaps the first Argentinean) to fully understand Einsteins theory of general relativity, this claim is also examined and it is contrasted with other critical approaches that look very successfully to dethrone him.