Do positivismo ao IFMT : formação de um novo homem

Abstract

This dissertation is the result of a study on the type of human formed at the Federal Institute of Mato Grosso (IFMT), with a specific focus on the Cuiabá campus – Octayde Jorge da Silva. Considering that the educational institution has over 25,000 enrolled students and plays a fundamental role in human formation in the state, it became essential to investigate more deeply the result of this formation, that is, the profile of the graduate. This institution, which emphasizes the teaching of science and, mainly, technology, has a profound impact on the formation of a specific type of human. In other words, an individual with a mindset focused on problem-solving, with technical and scientific skills, and an understanding of the importance of science and technology in social decision-making. These individuals play a significant role in advancing society and addressing contemporary challenges. Additionally, this institution is a crucial center for knowledge transfer, with an emphasis on the production of scientific and technological content. As science and technology become increasingly influential in societal decisions, it is essential to understand how this institution shapes the type of human that emerges from it. The central objective was to describe the type of human formed at IFMT, in light of positivism, as explained by the German thinker Eric Voegelin. This thinker, with his conception of positivism, provided the theoretical framework, highlighting the vision of a human being who lives between the immanent and the transcendent. While positivism emphasizes science and technology as the main solutions to human problems, Voegelin (2019) argues that positivism addresses only intramundane problems, disregarding indeterminate possibilities. The results of the research, obtained through semi-structured interviews with five (5) students from IFMT, reveal a type of human strongly influenced by confidence in technological and scientific capability as the basis for societal decisions. These individuals view science and technology as means to reduce human suffering and achieve material accomplishments, reflecting the emphasis of positivism on the search for immanent solutions. We call the type of human formed by IFMT the "technical-progressive," that is, the individual who relies on rational capacity to develop intramundane solutions to the problems considered by the positivist paradigm, using science and technology, while also considering the ethical modifications that these discoveries may bring.