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Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca
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37002 Salamanca (España)

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Dirección Salmanticensis

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Helena González Tapia

Phone 923277998 Ext. 7404

eISSN: 2660-955X

ISSN: 0036-3537

Faculty of Theology

Pontifical University of Salamanca

Francisco de Vitoria and Human Rights

The year 2026 marks the fifth centenary of Francisco de Vitoria's arrival in Salamanca, where he taught at university and became one of the main references of the so-called School of Salamanca. On this occasion, we propose an in-depth study of his personality, his work and his influence.

The importance of Francisco de Vitoria and the School of Salamanca for the reflection on natural law and the law of nations is well known. We therefore invite you to reflect on the history of this question and its repercussions for philosophical and theological thought.

This line of thought was one of those that converged in the development of reflection on human rights and their formulation in the 20th century. Today, the metaphysical and moral principles on which human rights are based seem to be losing evidence. It is therefore enriching for the promotion of humanism to think about how human rights have been founded and how it is possible to continue to provide an intellectual basis for the proposal of human rights and their defence. Theology has made its contributions along this path and is called upon to promote reflection on human rights.

Themes and perspectives

Francisco de Vitoria: life, work and influence

The theology of the School of Salamanca

Natural law in moral philosophy and theology

Foundations of human rights

Theological contributions to thinking about human rights

Monograph

Submission deadline: January 15, 2026

Instructions for authors: Maximum length of 12,000 words and more details in instructions for submissions (https://encr.pw/PRQIi)

Editors:

Emilio-José Justo Domínguez, Pontifical University of Salamanca (Spain)

José Antonio Calvo Gómez, Catholic University of Ávila (Spain)