An update of the Valladolid Debate, or how to join the communication community

Abstract

The Valladolid Debate (1550-1551), sought to establish human parameters regarding the indigenous peoples of the Americas in order to justify their conversion to Catholicism. Did the Indians possess a soul? Could they be converted to Christianity? How? Such were the questions of the scholars of that time. But we are interested in the philosopher Enrique Dussel’s reading of the Debate, especially concerning two questions we consider relevant. One is the connection with the “communication community” as posed by the German philosopher Karl Otto Apel, and the other is Dussel’s exposure of what he calls the “myth of modernity” and its corresponding critique. We see Dussel’s analysis become more effective day by day. Who are considered humans today? With whom can we dialogue? Who do we consider having something valuable to tell us? These are some of the questions that guide this work.