THE ATHEIS AND THE THEOLOGIST: A DIALOGUE FOR FREEDOM BETWEEN DARCY RIBEIRO AND LEONARDO BOFF

Abstract

This work, based on a literature review, sought to analyze the metaphysical dialogue
between the theologian Leonardo Boff and the anthropologist Darcy Ribeiro on his near-death bed. To
understand the debate, we used the category of Dialogue, according to which, through the process of
dialogue, individuals move from naive consciousness to critical consciousness, as Paulo Freire thinks We also use some fragments of Platonic metaphysics, which highlights that the Creator is synonymous
with love, being the fixed point that unifies everything within an eternal and rational hierarchy
(LEVENE, 2019), as well as the Myth of the Cave, to justify the fruitful anthropologist's work in favor
of Brazilian education. Thus, we seek to historicize Darcy Ribeiro's work and public life, using authors
such as Xavier (2017), Erthal and Martinazzo (2013) and Martinazzo et all (2020). In this sense, even
without believing in the metaphysical entity, Darcy Ribeiro united himself to Him, through,
exclusively, an “act of love” donating his life with works in favor of the transformation of Brazilian
society and in the defense of a public and quality education. Social. Gomes (2010) describes Darcy
Ribeiro as a plural man, who had his field of activity in several areas and who throughout his life
performed several works as an educator, anthropologist, indigenist, fiction writer and politician. When
analyzing its performance, from the educational point of view, it is clear that the Intellectual fought for
the universalization of popular public education and for the restructuring of higher education
(XAVIER, 2017). Finally, Darcy Ribeiro, with his work in the educational field, constantly challenges
us to think about the continuity of Brazilian education in the 21st century (MARTINAZZO et all,
2020).