Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda
Also known as: Juan Gines de Sepulveda · Juan Gines Sepulveda
- 1Participated in the Valladolid debate (1550–1551).
- 2Influenced by Aristotle and Saint Thomas Aquinas.
- 3Argued for the cultural superiority of the Spanish.
- 4Lived from 1490 to 1573.
- 5Expert in theology and Roman law.
Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda was a Spanish humanist, philosopher, and theologian of the Spanish Renaissance.
Connections1
primary intellectual adversary in the debate on conquest
Sepúlveda argued that the Spanish conquest was justified by the 'barbaric' nature of the indigenous peoples, directly opposing Las Casas's defense of their human rights.
Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda (1490–1573) was a distinguished Spanish humanist, philosopher, and theologian during the Spanish Renaissance. He is most recognized for his intellectual defense of the Spanish conquest, which culminated in a famous public confrontation known as the Valladolid debate held between 1550 and 1551.
Portada del Disputa o controversia con Ginés de Sepúlveda . Publicado en Sevilla en 1552 por Bartolomé de las Casas .Wikimedia Commons; Bartolomé de las Casas; Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, disputa o controversia con Ginés de Sepúlveda contendiendo acerca de la licitud de las conquistas de las Indias. Sevilla: 1552.; Public domain; Wikimedia Commons: Category:Juan Ginés de S...Retrato de Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda.Wikimedia Commons; Grabado de Juan Barcelón por dibujo de José Maea; Colección de «Retratos de los españoles ilustres» publicada por la Real Imprenta de Madrid entre 1791 y 1819. Grabado de Juan Barcelón por dibujo de José Maea; Public domain; Wikimedia Commo...Retrato de Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda (1490-1573).Wikimedia Commons; José Maea; https://www.academiacolecciones.com/dibujos/inventario.php?id=DG-0061; Public domain; Wikimedia Commons; Wikidata P18 (image) In his arguments, he drew heavily upon the works of Aristotle and Saint Thomas Aquinas, as well as principles of Roman law and Christian theology. He utilized these frameworks to assert the cultural superiority of the Spanish Empire, arguing that such dominance was justified in the context of the colonization of the Americas.