Medieval Ideology of Bartolomé de Las Casas
Abstract
Updating and expanding doctrines that were already present in Medieval scholastics, Las Casas –in a truly foundational controversy on the subject– set forth the reasons on why Native Americans could not be reduced to slavery nor could the argument of just war be invoked against them: Native Americans are rational and free beings, legitimate owners of their land, and the so-called “natural slavery” does not apply to them. To the considerations founded in Aristotle, Las Casas adds a special consideration of man as created “in the image of God”, with the consequences that follow from this. Invoking this doctrine of the man as imago Dei, even specially bonded with the Franciscans, does not cancel the practical differences between the Dominicans and the Franciscans with regard to the preparation of the Indians for baptism with a shorter or longer catechesis. Finally, a series of ambiguities and contradictions, both in what concerns to real legislation and to the pontifical one, this controversy closes with a note of suspense as far as the legitimacy of the conquest and the subdue of the natives.Downloads
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