Imaginarios utópicos e islas alter(iz)adas. Metáforas para una filosofía latinoamericana

This article contributes to the interdisciplinary debate on non-existent islands, situated within the Latin Americanist dimension. As a point of departure, it undertakes a survey of thinkers who have employed the insular imaginary to advance emancipatory ideas, thereby embedding these reflections within a Latin American intellectual tradition. The primary objective is to trace the trajectory followed by those authors who have invoked mythical islands to articulate their conceptions of Latin America. The discussion reflects on the possible meanings of those imaginaries in relation to contemporary realities, as well as on the broader issues of social imaginaries. The central argument concerning social imaginaries and their analysis is guided by a hermeneutic methodology, aiming to demonstrate that the insular imaginary has been sustained by colonialist practices, both within internal dynamics and through external influences. Furthermore, this article critically examines this stance, to clarify the processes through which certain authors either affirm or contest the notion that, in the idealized models represented by non-existent islands, social problems vanish and harmonious coexistence is achieved. Finally, the study underscores the necessity of adopting a decolonial perspective capable of unveiling what remains concealed within the insular imaginary –elements that frequently carry colonial implications– while recognizing that its reconfiguration enables the articulation of emancipatory counterproposals.

Keywords:
Insular imaginary; utopian models; Latin American though; colonialism and decoloniality