Nicolás Gómez Dávila, entre la tradición y la innovación

Abstract

The thought of Nicolás Gómez Dávila (Bogotá, 1913-1994) is a great absent in the academic atmosphere of our Nation. This article’s intention is to present its principal assumptions, to measure its argumentative richness that could back up a true philosophical thought in our land. To revise his personal opinions in regards to different issues, such as his critique of democracy (in favor of aristocracy), modern rationality, Christianity, among others, might help us as an excuse to read a scholar that, though did not leave an immense production, wrote a most interesting series of annotations and texts, that could appeal to every person interested in knowledge. Through his writings, there can be observed the critical view of a man that was raised in tradition: Philosopher, Christian, polyglot, a self-confessed reactionary. However, there is too a tinge of innovation, that turns his reading into something passionate. Thus, Gómez Dávila challenges his reader to know more, from the exquisiteness of his language he tempts the reader to discover even more... from his annotation he suggests the novelty, based in the tradition of thought of which he is extremely familiar with.