The Eurocentrism in the discourse of modernity

Abstract

Eurocentrism in the discourse of modern philosophers such as Hegel, Kant, Marx and Engels reveals a complex hierarchy of thought that cannot be simplified into a single category. Kant, in his work, establishes a racial hierarchy that positions non-European races in a state of inferiority, arguing that their development is a process that must follow the European model. Hegel shares this perspective, despising Amerindians as an inferior race and justifying European superiority over other peoples, considering them in a state of cultural “minority of age”. On the other hand, Marx presents an evolution in his Eurocentric thinking. Initially influenced by his social context; but later on his relationship with Hegel leads him to a deeper critique of history and economics, although his approach remains rooted in a Eurocentric view of progress. Engels, like Hegel, argues that non-European cultures must attain European development in order to emerge from their supposed inferiority.