1. Sepulveda likens the indigenous peoples to Aristotle’s slaves. What could be the basis for that. How does de las Casas refute that?
2. De las Casas postulates that the Indians are ‘barbarians’ only by their lack of access to a desirable language, and most importantly, their lack of faith in Jesus. Would that make them ‘barbarians’ in Aristotle’s terms?
3. Vitoria uses the methods of Thomas Aquinas to demonstrate his arguments. What are the strengths and weaknesses of that style?
4. De las Casas was there in the ‘Indies’. Does that give his observations more weight?
Application: Many of us at Columbia benefit from the work done by illegal immigrants in a way similar to the way Spaniards used the labor of the 'Indios'. How does the arguments in these texts help you evaluate a policy towards them?
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