ORLANDO FALS BORDA: FROM SCIENTISM TO MORAL SUBVERSION. TRANSIT AND RECONSTRUCTIONS OF A CRITICAL THINKING

Abstract

This article reconstructs the intellectual career of Orlando Fals Borda (1925-2008), one of the founders of sociology as a career in Colombia and an influential intellectual figure of the left. Fals Borda’s ideas have had significant impact throughout all of Latin America and this article argues that his ideas were strongly influenced by the fundamental tension felt during this time: On one hand the desire to promote scientific work committed to social change and sharply criticizing Marxism, and on the other hand, defending the idea of change based on religious motives, in sharp contrast to violent and revolutionary action. As such, Fals Borda`s transient ideas display the inherent tension associated with developing a line of critical thinking that looks to mold ideas to conflictive and outlying contexts.