Ci si propone di offrire al lettore un primo resoconto della vivace speculazione, intrisa di elementi giuridici e teologici, che la cosiddetta seconda scolastica elaborò intorno al concetto di filiazione – in particolare quella illegittima – nelle sue molteplici e sfaccettate nozioni. Tenendo sempre ben presenti alcuni dati di base, come la disciplina giustinianea, il successivo apporto del diritto canonico e la parola di San Tommaso, i giuristi-teologi del siglo de oro, una volta chiarite le diverse classi di discendenti (legittimi e non), si concentrano soprattutto sui diritti ereditari e sullo ius alendi di figli naturali (naturales) e spurii, giungendo a conclusioni non sempre univoche. Se grandi giureconsulti come Diego de Covarrubias y Leyva (1512-1577) e Luis de Molina (1535-1600) aderiscono quasi totalmente ai risultati dottrinali raggiunti dalla communis opinio doctorum, nel pensiero di maestri coevi, come il domenicano Pedro de Ledesma (1544-1616), è già vivo e presente un ripensamento dei rapporti tra genitori e figli (anche quelli illegittimi) teso a far trionfare la ragione naturale a scapito dell’iniqua tradizione giuridica passata. Anche nelle indagini sviluppate sulla delicata e complessa tematica della filiazione illegittima, e specialmente sul trattamento riservato ai figli adulterini e incestuosi fortemente discriminati dal diritto e dalla società, la tarda scolastica conferma la consueta capacità di trarre soluzioni giuridiche innovative partendo da riflessioni di carattere morale e teologico.

On propose d’offrir au lecteur un premier compte-rendu de la vivace spéculation, empreinte d’éléments juridiques et théologiques, que la grande scolastique élabora autour du concept de filiation, en particulier la filiation illégitime, dans ces multiples et complexes notions. En gardant toujours à l’esprit certaines données de base, comme la discipline justinienne, le successif apport du droit canonique et le verbe de Saint Thomas d’Aquin, les juristes-théologiens du siglo de oro, une fois clarifiées les différentes classes descendantes (légitimes et non), se concentrent surtout sur les droits héréditaires et sur le ius alendi d’ enfants naturels (naturales) et spurii, en arrivant à des conclusions qui ne sont pas toujours univoques. Même si de grands jurisconsultes comme Diego de Covarrubias y Leyva (1512-1577) et Luis de Molina (1535-1600) adhèrent presque totalement aux résultats doctrinaux atteints par la communis opinio doctorum, dans la pensée de maîtres contemporains comme le dominicain Pedro de Ledesma (1544-1616), na?t cependant déjà une vive et nouvelle réflexion sur les rapports entre parents et enfants ( même les enfants illégitimes) visant à faire triompher la raison naturelle au détriment de l’ancienne inique tradition juridique. Même dans les études développées sur le délicat et complexe thème de la filiation illégitime, et spécialement sur le traitement réservé aux enfants adultères et incestueux fortement discriminés par le droit et par la société, la scolastique tardive confirme l’habituelle capacité à tirer des solutions juridiques innovatrices partant de réflexions à caractère moral et théologique.

This article aims to provide an initial account of the lively debate that developed around the concept of filiation during the late Scholastic period, particularly as regards illegitimacy. It was a debate that featured several multifaceted ideas on the issue, as well as being rich in legal and theological considerations. The jurists/theologians of the siglo de oro were well-grounded in certain basic tenets, such as the Code of Justinian, the subsequent contribution of canon law, and the word of Saint Thomas Aquinas; once they had clarified the various classes of descendants (legitimate or otherwise), they especially concentrated on rights of inheritance and on the ius alendi of natural children (naturales) and spurii. Their conclusions, however, were not always in agreement. While great jurisconsults such as Diego de Covarrubias y Leyva (1512-1577) and Luis de Molina (1535-1600) were almost completely in line with the doctrinal stance on the issue as per the communis opinio doctorum, their contemporaries were already actively rethinking the relationships between parents and children (including illegitimate children). Such forward-thinking masters included the Dominican theologian Pedro de Ledesma (1544-1616), and their aim was to have natural reason prevail over the unjust legal tradition of the past. Illegitimate filiation was a delicate and complex issue, especially when it came to the treatment of adulterine and incestuous children, who faced fierce discrimination on the part of law and society. Yet once again, late Scholasticism reaffirmed its usual capacity for producing innovative legal solutions that resulted from moral and theological reflections.