Hacia una Moral sin Dogmas: Lecciones sobre Emerson y el Eticismo

A series of university lectures recorded in Buenos Aires in 1917, this work invites listeners into a spirited dialogue about moral independence. The professor frames his questions around Ralph Waldo Emerson’s claim that the “sovereignty of morality” stands apart from any imposed doctrine, urging students to examine whether ethical aspirations can evolve without the weight of traditional dogmas.

The discussions weave together the Puritan backdrop of early America, the influence of thinkers like Channing, and the parallel currents in Argentine intellectual life, especially the ideas of Sarmiento. Topics range from naturalistic ethics and panteísmo to the social function of non‑conformity, all presented with a candid, sometimes parenthetical, style that captures the immediacy of a live lecture. Listeners will hear a blend of rigorous analysis and personal reflection, highlighting how moral experience can be both socially grounded and individually autonomous.

By the end of the first act, the speaker has laid out a compelling case for an ethic that thrives on inquiry rather than creed, offering a foundation that feels surprisingly relevant to contemporary debates about freedom of conscience and the role of tradition in shaping our values.