Os Tupinambás no limite da razão

Tupinambás at the limit of reason

Abstract

Brazil was bestowed by Montaigne’s gaze on a quick but profound
analysis of the Tupinambá people. The philosopher not only praises this indigenous
people in many aspects, but points out their immense resemblance to the European
people in both barbaric customs and good virtues. He proposes to his fellow citizens
a self-examination of their own habits, so that a humanized observation of what
they once understood as savage may be instituted. It presents, from this, a sense
of humanity guided by the conception of nature, which strategically excludes the
artificial customs, but, at the same time, enables the manifestation of otherness.
The result of this will be the possibility of returning the gaze to the other, while
being really existing, now with the softened judgment regarding the influence of
their own customs: an anthropological view.

Keywords: Montaigne; Tupinambá; Humanity; Nature; Otherness