Philosophical modernity and literary fantasy: Corachán and his Avisos de Parnaso (1690)

Abstract

Talking about the Enlightenment in Spain, we generally refer to the middle age of the XVIII century. However, it was necessary a work of investigation, introduction and spreading of the modern thought in its broodest sense in order to reach this point; this task was developed by the called ‘novatores’. During the last decades of the XVII century, a group of thinkers, having a few problems and obstacles of all kind, decided that it was time to open the cultural and intellectual borders for the new changes proceeding from Europe. So, they were grouped in particular gatherings where they comment on the thought of ancient philosophers (Demócrito, Empédocles, Platón) and especially modern ones, as Honorato Fabri, Atanasio Kircher or Descartes. Juan Bautista Corachán, who belonged to the group of valencian novatores, began his renewable work with these Avisos de Parnaso, literary work with a clear claim of philosophical modernization.