Abstract

BHERING, Marcos Jungmann  and  MAIO, Marcos Chor. Science, positivism and agriculture: an analysis of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, industry and commerce in the First Republic. Varia hist. [online]. 2011, vol.27, n.46, pp. 689-709. ISSN 0104-8775.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-87752011000200015.

This article analyses the creation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce (MAIC) in 1909, as well as the scientific activities inside some of its agencies. With the creation of MAIC, the newly created institutes and those which were transferred to its responsibility (ex. Botanic Garden and National Museum) assumed an utilitarian orientation with the objective of modernizing and developing the national agriculture. We suggest that the positivist values regarding progress and the important role of applied sciences had key in the creation of MAIC and in the activities of its agencies.

Keywords : Ministry of Agriculture; Positivism; Applied Science.