Abstract

LOPEZ MOLINA, Amalia Xochitl. Hermenéutica del descubrimiento del Nuevo Mundo. La polémica de Valladolid y la naturaleza del indio americano. Valenciana [online]. 2015, vol.8, n.15, pp.233-260. ISSN 2007-2538.

From the "discovery" of America we identify two conflicting views about the continent and its inhabitants. Contemporary scholars point out that such views fit to the ideal that was imagined to be found, opposed to what was really found; therefore, Americo Vespucio labels the native of America as a cannibal, giant and concupiscent, while Cristóbal Colón (Christopher Columbus) finds an earthly paradise inhabited by good and beautiful men, capable of converting to Christianity. The philosophical height of these views happens in the Controversy of Valladolid (1550-1551) where the humanist Ginés de Sepúlveda maintains the human inequality as a natural law and bets for a violent evangelism of the indians considered as inferiors, while De las Casas proposes a peaceful evangelism that presumes the liberty and equality of the indians, as well as the respect to their rights and possessions.

Keywords : Discovery of America; Controversy of Valladolid; Sepúlveda; De las Casas; Indian nature.

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