Aristotle introduced by Jean Gerson: The Theory of the Conquest of Vasco de Quiroga (1470?-1565)

Abstract

In his Información en Derecho, Vasco de Quiroga (1470?-1565) discusses the just war theory of his times, proposing an own take on the subject. He dismisses, and occasionally attacks traditional attempts to justify the Spanish Conquista, which argued that the conquest was justifiable, because the American natives were idolaters, aggressors against the Spaniards, or infringers of Natural Law. Yet, he puts forward a theory which, based on Aristotle’s political thought, allows for a conquest of the New World alleging that there was no legitimate political authority whatsoever in pre-Columbian America. In this paper, I try to get to grips with Quiroga’s interpretation of Aristotle and his application of this interpretation to the peoples of New Spain.