Enlightenment, nature and pragmatism in Portugal: the contribution of the Royal Academy of Sciences in the eighteenth century

The analysis of historical contexts as well as the analysis of the practices and discourses produced by figures linked to Portuguese culture, particularly to the Royal Academy of Sciences of Lisbon, founded by Queen Maria I, in 1779, allows to evaluate the understanding that in Portugal had, during the eighteenth century, nature, a key idea of the concept of Enlightenment. The texts then produced which, inter alia some of the memories presented to that institution, allow the assessment and evaluation of design elements included therein and show a clear sense of pragmatism in favor of the development of the kingdom.

Keywords:
Royal Academy of Sciences of Lisbon; Enlightenment; Nature