Las Casas Anticipated the Thoughts of Hobbes

I believe, Las Casas had anticipated the thought of Hobbes in some way. One of the battle cry of Las Casas is a peaceful and non-violent war. Hobbes in the first law he proposed, states that: “Every man ought to endeavor peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it, and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use all helps and advantages of war. (Leviathan as cited in Williams 2006).

Both of them had preferred that every man should seek to have peace with other men. Las Casas had also used the term “natural rights” (Carozza 2003) which was also used by Hobbes in explaining that under the natural state of man, man has the right to be violent towards other men (Williams 2006). The situations of the Indian slaves led Las Casas to fight for human rights. It integrated individual right with the collectivities in community and in society in general.

Moreover Hobbes also supposed, the congregation of individuals to form a commonwealth that would provide associated contract with the highest form of social organization (Kemerling 2001). Las Casas firmly believed in human freedom not only among Indians but also across the globe. He soon realized that what he wanted for the blacks was to be free laborers and not just slaves (Carozza, 2003).

Hobbes had similarly adhered the concept of genuine freedom just like La Casas when he said that the “genuine human freedom” is when one work on his/her volition without having to interfere with others (Kemerling 2001). Las Casas had engaged on treaties and ideally passed law on freeing the Indian slaves, hobbes on the other hand had pictured a sovereign society in which people had agreed upon as the protector of their interests. Invariably, both advocated a law that would protect each individual in a peaceful manner.

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