Was Hugo Grotius a Rationalist?

Abstract

Scholars situate Grotius at the origin of more geometrico rationalism. Under this reading, he is responsible for the transition from a dialectical to a deductivist interpretation of the naturally just. Grotius, however, neither deems ethics explainable through mathematics, nor does he think that reason alone determines whether an action is right or wrong. Without nature, he maintains, reason is an empty measure. Keywords Hugo Grotius, modern rationalism, more geometrico rationalism, etiamsi daremus hypothesis, natural law.

Keywords

• Hugo Grotius
• rationalism
• natural law
• more geometrico rationalism
• etiamsi daremus