THE LISBON EARTHQUAKE

FROM ENLIGHTENMENT TO EXISTENTIALISM

Authors

  • Nikolas Coppi Gonçalves UNIOESTE - UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DO OESTE DO PARANA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48075/ra.v13i1.35006

Keywords:

Lisbon earthquake, Enlightenment, Existentialism.

Abstract

This article examines the impact of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake on Western philosophy, investigating how it drove the transition from the Enlightenment to existentialism. The central hypothesis is that the event triggered a crisis in theodicy and reinforced rationalism, paving the way for nihilist and existentialist thought. The methodology involves a theoretical review of works by Voltaire, Kant, Nietzsche, and Camus, analyzing their responses to suffering and meaninglessness. The study concludes that the earthquake not only shook faith in divine order but also sparked a search for new meanings, ultimately affirming individual autonomy in the face of uncertainty.

Published

02-09-2025

How to Cite

GONÇALVES, N. C. THE LISBON EARTHQUAKE : FROM ENLIGHTENMENT TO EXISTENTIALISM. Alamedas, [S. l.], v. 13, n. 1, p. 221–230, 2025. DOI: 10.48075/ra.v13i1.35006. Disponível em: https://saber.unioeste.br/index.php/alamedas/article/view/35006. Acesso em: 7 dec. 2025.