Sérgio Luminoso e Nocturno. Irracionalidade e Decadência em Portugal

António Sérgio's distinction between an Apollonian and a Dionysian side in the work of the 19th century writer Antero de Quental and his implicit criticism of his Dionysian or nocturnal facet constitutes an indication of the categories that inform the essayist's own thought. Sérgio interprets Portuguese history as a struggle between the polarized forces of reason and irrationality and blames the decadence in which the country found itself on the prevalence of unreason. Following the model of the Enlightenment, Sérgio suggests that the solution for Portugal's problems would be education and culture, both based upon the light of critical reason.