Providentialism, decisionism, and anthropological pessimism. The Joseph de Maistre’s influence on the Donoso Cortes’s political theology

Abstract

Juan Donoso Cortes is one of the most important political thinkers of the Spanish 19th century. There is no doubt that the traditionalist Joseph de Maistre was the author who exerted a major influence on the Donoso’s work. This presence can be seen clearly in the key concepts of his political theory, such as anthropological pessimism, providentialism or decisionism. Even though the Marquis of Valdegamas comes close to the demaistrianas thesis by bordering on literality, as when he speaks of «war theory», considering Donoso a mere pupil or follower of the thesis made by the Savoyard would be unfair. Although there are coincidental points between the Count de Maistre and Juan Donoso Cortes, there are also matters in which the author of Discourse on Dictatorship differs from the demaistrianas thesis acquiring then his thought its own depth and personality.