Abordagem ao «tecnologismo»: tecnologia e religião no Portugal da regeneração

Abstract

On the second half of the 19th century, Portugal invested in different technological solutions to modernize some of the sectors of Portuguese society. The railway was one of the most visible innovations. Besides the material improvements i n terms of speed and f reight capacit y, the railway took a leading symbolic role as representative of modernization, civilization and overall progress. In this paper I argue that the feeling of technological sublime brought about by the steam locomotive was also characterized by religious traits of an implicit religion (technologism), which contributed to the process of implementation of the railroad itself, and also to enhance the relevance of its technological agents in the Portuguese society.