Francisco de Vitoria’s Justification for the Colonization of America. Natural Rights’ Perspective

Abstract

The article presents the way in which Francisco de Vitoria justified the colonization of America. The considerations are based on the assumption that according to Vitoria, the relationship between the Spaniards and the inhabitants of the New World was based on the doctrine of natural powers. For this reason, the concept of the Spanish thinker should be taken considered. Its originality is based primarily on the fact that it used the idea of natural powers to solve current problems, and also let the concept known widely, but treated as an impractical legacy of the Middle Ages, became the basis for law and policy considerations. In this way he paved the way for modern ways of recognizing natural rights and, finally, human rights.