The earthquake of the bicentenary: Republican virtues and public institutions. A reflection from the history of the city of Concepcion

Abstract

This essay argues that February 2010 earthquake evoked our founding fathers’ reflections on the public interest and virtues. It is necessary to review some of these questions in view of political theory and the Chilean historical experience. The establishment of public institutions founded on a powerful and legitimized constitution which is legitimized in the public, and the promotion of public virtues through education and the media and shown to be particularly important for societies facing social or natural crises.