The Salamanca School

Major Conservative and Libertarian Thinkers #9

by André Azevedo Alves, José Manuel Moreira, John Meadowcroft (Editor)

“"The volumes in this timely series comprise the most comprehensive body of material on conservative and libertarian thought yet published in a single project devoted to the subject. The series will prove an indispensable tool not only for those concerned with the history of political thought but also for those who confront the challenging task of constructing a viable contemporary conservative identity. Professor Meadowcroft had a difficult editorial task, to which he has responded with a judicious choice of thinkers and topics." Noel O'Sullivan, Professor of Political Philosophy, the University of Hull, UK.” –

“"This work is an important contribution to the history of legal and economic thought. The recognition at the U. N. of Francisco de Vitoria O. P. as the founder of international law has moved the School of Salamanca to its rightful place in intellectual history. Building on the thought of the late medieval Conciliarists, such as Cardinal Cajetan, the early modern Iberian thinkers expanded the theory of individual rights and limitation on government. Based on the revival of the work of Thomas Aquinas, de Vitoria brought from the University of Paris a new vitality to the historic Castilian University of Salamanca. De Vitoria's successors, such as Domingo de Soto O. P., Luis de Molina S. J., Juan de Marina S.J., and Francisco Suarez, S. J., continued the tradition at Salamanca and other Spanish and Portuguese universities, as well as in Lima and Mexico City. One of the most widely known was not an academic but an outspoken bishop of Yucatan, Bartolome de Las Casas, O. P. whose widely read writings in defense of the individual rights and property of the Native Americans drew from his teachers at Salamanca. This work examines the Salamanca analysis of the ethical and juridical framework of the market, the subjective theory of value, interest, monetary theory and inflation. Alves and Moreira conclude with the relevance of the School of Salamanca to contemporary Catholic social thought." --Professor Leonard P. Liggio, Distinguished Senior Scholar, Institute for Humane Studies, George Mason University; and Atlas Economic Research Foundation” –

“"The importance of the School of Salamanca is slowing increasing in the studies of the origins of our modern Western culture. First, the jurists Brown-Scott, Nys or Barcia Trelles highlighted their importance in the field of International Law (the Vitoria's "Ius Gentium", which Grotius settled in Europe in the XVII Century); next they are admired as founders of the science of Economics (already said by Marjorie Grice Hutchinson, Joseph Schumpeter or Raymond de Roover for over more than fifty years and recently confirmed by Chaufuen), and even as forerunners of the Austrian School (Rothbard or Huerta de Soto), due to its proto-liberal thought in many issues related to philosophy, economics and politics.So far, there have been few studies on these topics --scattered, difficult to find, and in many cases published in Spanish. Indeed, this complete study on the late Scholastics in Spain, Europe and America was necessary. It is provided by professors Alves, Meadowcroft, and Moreira, who offer the Anglophone world a brilliant synthesis of the School of Salamanca, also updating the existing bibliography. These pages can both introduce students to this study while offering an opportunity to rethink the current social dilemmas and economic crisis from this philosophical and moral point of view." --Leon M. Gomez Rivas. Professor of Economic Thought. Universidad Europea de Madrid. Spain” –

168 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2008

Reviews

[Bernard English · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consider the contributions of the school, I can only guess that the Founding Father's didn't refer to them much because of the language gap and the fact that traditionally Spain was England's enemy. Otherwise, whether on economic, legal, international affairs, or ethical matters, surely they would have been a rich source of inspiration for the Founding Fathers.

[Eduardo Garcia-Gaspar · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Salamanca School define bien su propósito en el subtítulo: «Major Conservative and Libertarian Thinkers». La obra está dividida en cuatro partes que explican el contexto histórico, hacen una exposición crítica de las ideas (la parte más jugosa), examinan los efectos de esas ideas y terminan con comentarios sobre la pertinencia de esas ideas en la actualidad. Se mencionan con amplia frecuencia los personajes clásicos de la escuela: Vitoria, de Soto, Suárez, Azpilcueta, Molina, Mariana, Mercado e incluso a Las Casas.
El libro «describe el pensamiento de estudiosos católicos directa e indirectamente asociados con la Universidad de Salamanca en España en el siglo 16, quienes desarrollaron la filosofía establecida de Santo Tomás de Aquino en contra del panorama del humanismo creciente y la ciencia moderna, de la reforma Protestante y la colonización europea de las Américas».
Es pues, un examen ordenado de las ideas de un grupo de personajes de los siglos 16 y 17, ibéricos la mayoría, incluyendo a portugueses, y que se juzgan una parte vital en el desarrollo de grandes ideas políticas y económicas. Los asuntos políticos, sociales, económicos, monetarios, comerciales, humanos, bélicos, de conquista y dominación, religiosos, de pobreza... pasaron por sus mentes con gran profundidad de observación.
El libro es muy breve, sencillo de leer y puede ser visto como una introducción al tema concreto que podrá ser complementado con lecturas posteriores. Recomendable para quien tiene interés en la historia de las ideas y tenga capacidad de sorprenderse con las fascinantes y perspicaces observaciones de estos personajes (como la del valor subjetivo de los bienes, el precio justo, las justificantes de guerra, la inflación y demás).

[Manuel Menezes de Sequeira · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book. By reading it, you will better understand the history of ideas, but also solidify your own arguments for freedom with the insights of the late scholastics. If you are a Catholic, this book will also be a good antidote against the almost socialist views that too many Catholics hold today. What is missing from this book, I dare say, is a roadmap through the writings of the Salamanca School authors. Indeed, the logical next step after reading this book is to go read the originals, but where should one start?