Colonial Scholasticism: Interpreting Nature, Society, and Philosophy in Spanish America

Colonial Scholasticism: Interpreting Nature, Society, and Philosophy in Spanish America explores the enduring influence of scholasticism beyond Europe, tracing its evolution in the intellectual and educational institutions of colonial Latin America.

Far from being a mere extension of European thought, colonial scholasticism developed in response to new cultural, political, and scientific contexts, engaging with both local realities and global philosophical traditions. This volume examines the emergence and adaptation of scholastic philosophy in Spanish America, from the establishment of schools and universities to the development of novel approaches to law, science, and theology. It explores how the works of Aristotle and his ancient and medieval followers continued to shape intellectual discourse in the American world. At the same time, it highlights how these traditions were reinterpreted in dialogue with Indigenous knowledge, social structures, and the challenges posed by colonial rule. Bringing together contributions from leading scholars in the field, Colonial Scholasticism sheds light on a neglected chapter in the history of Western philosophy. It challenges Eurocentric periodisations that confine scholasticism to the Middle Ages and demonstrates its continued relevance in shaping philosophical and scientific thought well into early modernity.

This book is an essential resource for historians of philosophy, scholars of Latin American intellectual history, and all those interested in the global dimensions of scholasticism.

Abel Aravena Zamora is a Senior Researcher and Professor of Philosophy at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Playa Ancha, Valparaíso, Chile. His research explores philosophical activity in colonial Latin America, particularly in Chile, through the study of manuscript records from educational institutions of the time. He has published articles and books on the teachings of various philosophy masters active in Chile from the 17th to the 19th century. Abel is currently the Principal Investigator of a four-year research project funded by the Chilean agency Fondecyt-ANID (2025-2028).

Nicola Polloni is an Associate Professor of Medieval Philosophy at the University of Messina, Italy. His research focuses on natural philosophy, hylomorphism, and, in particular, premodern theories of matter and prime matter, combining historical, systematic, and comparative perspectives. His publications include The Twelfth-Century Renewal of Latin Metaphysics: Gundissalinus’s Ontology of Matter and Form (2020) and Hylomorphism into Pieces: Elements, Atoms, and Corpuscles in Natural Philosophy and Medicine, 1400-1600 (co-edited, 2024).