Raimundo Teixeira Mendes
Encyclopedia
Raimundo Teixeira Mendes (Caxias
, 5 January 1855 – Rio de Janeiro
, 1927) was a Brazil
ian philosopher and mathematician
. He is credited with creating the national motto
, "Order and Progress", as well as the national flag
on which it appears.
, which is called "Igreja Positivista do Brasil" or in English "Positivist Church of Brazil." In life he led the Positivist Church after 1903. For him the Positivist viewpoint meant he opposed most wars and believed in the eventual disappearance of nations. He also opposed Christian missionary work toward the indigenous Brazilians and instead favored a policy based on protection and gradual assimilation. He deemed their societies "fetishistic", but believed a gradual non-coercive assimilation was the way to turn them into Positivists.
Caxias
Caxias is a Portuguese name that can refer to:* Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, a Brazilian military leader, nobleman and statesman-Brazil:*Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul*Caxias *Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro...
, 5 January 1855 – Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, 1927) was a Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian philosopher and mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
. He is credited with creating the national motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
, "Order and Progress", as well as the national flag
Flag of Brazil
The national flag of Brazil is a blue disc depicting a starry sky spanned by a curved band inscribed with the national motto, within a yellow rhombus, on a green field. Brazil officially adopted this design for its national flag on November 19, 1889, replacing the flag of the second Empire of Brazil...
on which it appears.
Comtean Positivism
Teixeira Mendes was heavily influenced by Comtism and is classed as a "Humanity Apostle" by Brazil's Religion of HumanityReligion of Humanity
Religion of Humanity was a secular religion created by Auguste Comte, the founder of positivist philosophy. Adherents of this religion have built chapels of Humanity in France and Brazil.-Origins:...
, which is called "Igreja Positivista do Brasil" or in English "Positivist Church of Brazil." In life he led the Positivist Church after 1903. For him the Positivist viewpoint meant he opposed most wars and believed in the eventual disappearance of nations. He also opposed Christian missionary work toward the indigenous Brazilians and instead favored a policy based on protection and gradual assimilation. He deemed their societies "fetishistic", but believed a gradual non-coercive assimilation was the way to turn them into Positivists.