ENTRE MASSA, SOCIEDADE E COMUNIDADE

UMA ANÁLISE FILOSÓFICO SOCIOLÓGICA DE OS SERTÕES A PARTIR DE ÉMILE DURKHEIM E EDITH STEIN

Abstract

This article sought to offer a philosophical reflection on the experience of Canudos, narrated by Euclides da Cunha in Os Sertões, by articulating Émile Durkheim’s sociological thought with Edith Stein’s philosophical insights. From Durkheim’s perspective, life in Canudos can be interpreted as an expression of mechanical solidarity, grounded in cohesion, similarity, and collective consciousness. However, such a framework does not fully capture the existential dimension of communal experience. At this point, Stein’s contribution proves fruitful, as she distinguishes between mass, society, and community, emphasizing that community is rooted in the active sharing of meaning, while mass is characterized by passive homogeneity. Under this philosophical lens, Canudos emerges as a phenomenon where traits of both community and mass intertwine: on one hand, a profound solidarity forged by faith, suffering, and a shared destiny; on the other, submission to Antônio Conselheiro’s charismatic authority, which diluted individual autonomy. Ultimately, this philosophical-sociological analysis not only illustrates key classical concepts but also offers insights that enhance our understanding of belonging and collective cohesion.