'Predileções individuais' ou a 'ação construtiva da Nação': intérpretes do Brasil na República Velha

This article analyzes the positivist foundations that are present in the historic production of intellectuals members of the Historical and Geographical Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, between the years of 1921 and 1930. Intellectuals of various origins, who called themselves “interpreters of the social life”, should express “the fact” and the historical truth about “the scientific basis”. The preconceived romantic-positivist ideas set the tone for the “national spirit”, “importance of the past”, “exact and repairing consciousness”, “just and fair analyses”, “people”. Therefore, the investigation of the pages of the HGIRGS magazine, made it possible to understand the definition of nation and the relation of what govern would be without the obstacles of party disputes – neutral administration, straight forward, organized by the principles of political science.