José Ortega y Gasset facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José Ortega y Gasset
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Ortega y Gasset in 1948
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| Born | 9 May 1883 |
| Died | 18 October 1955 (aged 72) Madrid, Spain
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| Alma mater | University of Deusto Complutense University of Madrid |
| Era | 20th-century philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | Continental philosophy< Perspectivism Pragmatism Vitalism Historism Existentialism Existential phenomenology Lebensphilosophie (philosophy of life) Neo-Kantianism (early) Madrid School Liberalism Noucentisme |
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Main interests
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History, reason, politics |
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Notable ideas
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Vital reason (ratiovitalism) Historical reason "I am I and my circumstance" Ortega hypothesis |
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Influenced
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José Ortega y Gasset (born May 9, 1883 – died October 18, 1955) was a Spanish philosopher and writer. He lived and worked in the first half of the 20th century. During this time, Spain went through many changes, including different types of government.
Ortega y Gasset's ideas are often called a "philosophy of life." He was inspired by thinkers like William James and Edmund Husserl. His work touched on topics like existentialism (thinking about what it means to exist) and historicism (understanding things by looking at their history).
Contents
Who Was José Ortega y Gasset?
His Early Life and Education
José Ortega y Gasset was born in Madrid, Spain, on May 9, 1883. His father was the director of a newspaper called El Imparcial. This newspaper belonged to his mother's family. His family was known for being liberal and well-educated. This background greatly influenced his interest in politics.
He first went to school with Jesuit priests in Málaga. Later, he studied at the University of Deusto in Bilbao. He then went to the Central University of Madrid (now Complutense University of Madrid), where he earned a doctorate in Philosophy. From 1905 to 1907, he continued his studies in Germany. There, he was influenced by thinkers like Hermann Cohen and Paul Natorp.
Becoming a Professor and Writer
In 1908, Ortega y Gasset returned to Spain. He became a professor of Philosophy, Logic, and Ethics in Madrid. In 1910, he married Rosa Spottorno Topete. He also became a full professor of Metaphysics at Complutense University of Madrid.
In 1917, he started writing for the newspaper El Sol. He published two of his most important works there: España invertebrada (Invertebrate Spain) and La rebelión de las masas (The Revolt of the Masses). The Revolt of the Masses made him famous around the world. In 1923, he started a magazine called Revista de Occidente. This magazine helped introduce many important philosophical ideas to Spain.
Politics and Exile
Ortega y Gasset was chosen to be a representative for the Province of León in the new Spanish Republic. He led a group of thinkers who supported the Republic. However, he soon left politics because he was disappointed.
When the Spanish Civil War began, he left Spain. He lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for several years. In 1942, he moved back to Europe, settling in Portugal. By 1948, he returned to Madrid. There, he started the Institute of Humanities, where he gave lectures. He often spoke privately about his dislike for the Franco government.
Ortega's Main Ideas
Liberalism and Society
One of Ortega y Gasset's most famous books is The Revolt of the Masses. In this book, he supported the ideas of liberalism. He believed in a society where people are rewarded for their skills and efforts. He worried about the "tyranny of the majority," where the opinions of many could harm individual freedom and new ideas.
Ortega y Gasset did not like the Spanish Conservative Party or the monarchy. However, he was open to some forms of socialism that were not based on Marxism. He even said that "19th-century capitalism has made humanity less moral."
"I Am Me and My Surroundings"
Ortega y Gasset believed that philosophy should challenge old ideas to find new truths. He thought that to understand reality, we must look at "my life"—the life of each person. He famously said, "Yo soy yo y mi circunstancia" (which means "I am me and my circumstance" or "I am me and my surroundings").
This idea means that a person ("I") cannot be separated from their world ("my circumstance"). Our surroundings influence us, and we influence them. Life, for Ortega, is a constant interaction between what we need and our freedom to choose. He believed that we are given certain possibilities in life, and within those, we must choose our own path. We should actively decide and create our "project of life" instead of just following old customs.
Vital Reason and History
Ortega y Gasset also developed the idea of "vital reason" (razón vital). This means that reason should always be connected to life itself. He also used the term "ratiovitalism." This theory suggests that our knowledge comes from the basic reality of life, and reason is a key part of it.
For Ortega y Gasset, vital reason is also "historical reason." This means that people and societies are shaped by their past. To truly understand something, we must understand its history.
How Ortega y Gasset Influenced Others
Ortega y Gasset had a big impact on many people. His writings were easy to understand, even for those who weren't philosophy experts.
Many thinkers were influenced by him, including Julián Marías and María Zambrano.
The Ortega hypothesis is an idea based on a quote from The Revolt of the Masses. It suggests that even average scientists contribute a lot to the progress of science.
A type of grape, called Ortega, was named in his honor.
His most famous book, La rebelión de las masas (The Revolt of the Masses), has been translated into English several times.
Madrid School
The Madrid School was a group of philosophers who were students of Ortega y Gasset. They shared similar ideas, often disagreeing with certain scientific ways of thinking. Some members included José Gaos and Julián Marías.
Influence on the Generation of '27
Ortega y Gasset also had a strong influence on the writers of the Generation of '27. This was a group of important poets in Spanish literature during the 1920s.
His Works
Many of Ortega y Gasset's works were originally lectures. They were often published years later, sometimes after he had passed away. Here are some of his important writings:
- Meditaciones del Quijote (Meditations on Quixote, 1914)
- España invertebrada (Invertebrate Spain, 1921)
- El tema de nuestro tiempo (The Modern Theme, 1923)
- La deshumanización del arte e Ideas sobre la novela (The dehumanization of art and Ideas about the novel, 1925)
- ¿Qué es filosofía? (What is philosophy? 1928–1929)
- La rebelión de las masas (The Revolt of the Masses, 1930)
- History as a System (1935)
- El hombre y la gente (Man and people, 1949–1950)
See also
In Spanish: José Ortega y Gasset para niños
- List of liberal theorists
