Philosophy 04

“The natural laws and rules of men are common to all peoples, Christian and pagan, without distinction and no matter what their sect, law, status, color or origin may be.”

Quote translated after: Bartolomé de Las Casas (1996): Brief an Prinz Philipp vom 20.4.1544", in: Delgasdo Mariano (Hrsg.): Sozialethische und staatsrechtliche Schriften, Vol. 3 (1), Paderborn: Schöningh Verlag, pp. 33-59, p. 51. Picture: Unknown painter; Informations source : National Geographic & Álvaro Huerga, Bartolomé de Las Casas: Vie et œuvres.

Bartholomé de Las Casas (1484-1566) was a Spanish Dominican monk and the first bishop of Chiapa (today: Mexico). He came as a soldier who took part in colonization. Later he changed his opinion and criticized the violence against the indigenous population.

Long before the individual rights of freedom in 18th century Europe, Las Casas turned against Spain's policies of colonialization by calling for equal rights for all people. He pointed out the illegality of the alleged treaties with indigenous populations, which were intended to legitimize colonial land seizure and rule of the Spanish conquerors. Las Casas attempted to defend equality and freedom of the subjugated peoples as human beings and their right to political self-determination. His writings and his advocacy of the indigenous population exposed Las Casas to the accusation, e.g. insult of the Spanish nation, disortion of history or being mentally ill. Because of his writings and advocacy of the indigenous people, Las Casas was accused of insulting the Spanish nation, falsifying history and being mentally ill.

*Lawrence A. Clayton (2012): Bartolomé de las Casas: A Biography. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. *Resources on Bartolomé de Las Casas.

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