Hispanic Philosophy in the Age of Discovery (Studies in Philosophy and the History of Philosophy, Vol. 29)

Washington, D.C.: (1997): Catholic University of America. Octavo. xv, 319 p. This important works covers the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. While it was a time of crisis in Spain, the adaptation of Erasmus' encomium of the liberal arts is covered to the period just before Cadalso's indictment of Salamanca as an institution of regression. The deep commitment to medieval thought was in conflict with the discovery of the New World. Beauchot, Andujar deal with the debate between Sepulveda and Las Casas. Sepulveda saw the lack of moral restraints on the part of the natives as reason to constrain and enslave them so that they would be ready for evangelization. Las Casas, on the other hand, felt that while they lived in a state of nature, they could be won over by the example of those who lived by the pious standards of the Church. The contributions by Wells, Menn and Norena are dedicated to Francisco Suarez. The work is a major contribution to the complex study of Hispanic philosophy as both brilliance and retrogression seemed to be a work in the university and court cultures. Issued in a small print run, the item has been considered scarce since its early issue in 1997. Bound in blue cloth, spine lettering gilt. A very nice copy with one corner slightly bumped in blue and white dust jacket.