“Methodological Prerequisites for a Global Society in the Account of Luis de Molina and Francisco Suárez”

Abstract: My paper discusses the political theory of Luis de Molina (1535–1600) and Francisco Suárez (1548–1617) and thereby focuses on the origin of states which grounds in a concept of humans who are by nature part of a global society. As a result of this conception of human beings as parts of a global political society, not only the origin of the singular states becomes clear, but also the way in which all mankind forms a certain moral unity. This moral unity finds its expression in certain rights that are prior to or independent from rights that arise out of being a member of a certain society. By looking at the philosophers from the early modern times like Molina and Suárez, not only systematical questions can be posed, but as well the historical connection between medieval latin philosophy and the modern concepts of human rights and the idea of cosmopolitanism can be displayed.