A imaginação utópica como crítica social: a utopia de Thomas More na colonização da América Espanhola no século XVI

Abstract

This work seeks to analyze elements of the philosophical and theoretical reflection of the political thought of the sixteenth century, especially in relation to the problems raised by the arrival of the Europeans in America. European political thought at the time was going through a period of great agitation in which humanistic rationalism intertwined with medieval currents. An example of these currents, the Spanish scholasticism, which was the foundation of the Iberian school of peace founded by Francisco de Vitória, is where the reflection provoked by America has proved more fruitful. Slavery, the autonomy of the peoples, the rights of colonization, etc. are examples of the problems discussed. In this way it is sought to understand how this Iberian thought in consonance with the spirit of humanism caused a critique of the model of implemented colonization. Thus, the criticism of the model of implemented colonization by the mercantilist company, especially Iberian, can be criticized both by Iberian scholasticism and by humanism. With the aim of reflecting on the political thought of the sixteenth century and understanding aspects of this relationship between humanism and Iberian scholastic thinking about colonization in America, we seek to analyze a case of the reception of the Utopia work of the English humanist Thomas More. Thus, the work and action of the Spanish bishop and magistrate Vasco de Quiroga, who worked with the natives in New Spain from 1531 to 1565, is taken as an example. Quiroga was influenced by humanism and especially by the work Utopia of Thomas More. From this work he creates the pueblos-Hospitales that served as community of welcome, formation and economic and social development of the native peoples. The idea is that the Pueblos-Hospitales as direct influence of the Utopia has as theoretical foundation the criticism that the Iberian philosophy developed to the colonization in America.