This article sets Hélio Jaguaribe's thoughts in the frame of the main influences of intellectual life is the forties, when ideological preferences and political choices were polarized between democracy and fascism. In Brazil, two urging challenges were imposed one of them, related to obstacles and dilemmas of competitive social order and the other, a reflexion about national identity and culture. As an answer, Jaguaribe pointed out the necessity to organize a complete thought which overcame the occidental thinking crises. This should be the first step, so that the elites could elaborate an "authentic civilizatory project", able to mobilize masses and set up conditions to break through the Brazilian insertion situation by that time.Influência do pensamento de Hélio Jaguaribe na vida intelectual dos anos 40. No Brasil, colocavam-se dois desafios: dilemas da ordem social competitiva e identidade e cultura nacionais. Necessidade de formação de pensamento que superasse: crise do pensamento ocidental. Criação do "saber ético, pedagógico e salvacionista": primeiro passo para elaboração de um "projeto civilizatório autêntico".