José Ortega y Gasset: Spanish Thought and 20th Century Philosophy

José Ortega y Gasset: Historical Context and Philosophy

José Ortega y Gasset lived through a pivotal period of Spanish history, spanning from the reign of Alfonso XII to the Franco dictatorship. Spain at this time was predominantly agricultural, except in very specific areas.

The "Problem of Spain" and Regenerationism

Ortega witnessed an event of major significance, leading an entire generation to consider the "Problem of Spain": the loss of the last remnants of Spanish colonial rule in 1898. This event was a profound shock to the national consciousness, prompting the greatest minds of the moment to consider the decline of Spain. It is here that Ortega's thought connects with:

• Regenerationism: A movement advocating for the moral, social, and economic regeneration of Spain.
• The Generation of '98: A group of writers and thinkers deeply affected by the 1898 disaster, who critically examined Spain's past and future.
• Krausism: A philosophical movement emphasizing moral reform, education, and harmony.

Ortega's Public Life and Political Engagement

His public life and projects were intrinsically linked to these regenerationist ideals. His doctrinal confrontation with the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera caused him to lose his professorship, which he later recovered. His political participation in supporting the advent of the Second Republic increased significantly during these years.

Globally, these years also saw the start of the First World War and the Russian Revolution, which led to a totalitarian system. This connected with the rise of fascism in Europe after the Crisis of 1929, eventually leading to the Second World War.

Exile and Disillusionment

In Spain, the Civil War began, deeply affecting Ortega. His return to Spain in 1945 marked a period of internal exile, prompted by his dismay at a Spain of mediocrity, marked by civil war and isolation from Europe.

Philosophical Vision and Twentieth-Century Currents

Ortega envisioned the progress of Spain in the maintenance of an intellectual elite to lead the masses, fostering bourgeois optimism and a vitalist conception of culture. He believed in an educated elite, aware of the spectacular advances of science, such as physics (the theory of relativity or the appearance of quantum mechanics) and biology, as well as avant-garde artistic currents.

In this sense, we can frame his philosophy within those philosophical currents of the twentieth century that all shared a common desire to overcome a concept of rationality and truth that had prevailed in the West, thereby avoiding a descent into irrationalism or skepticism. In this group, perhaps the most interesting twentieth-century philosophies include:

• Husserl's Phenomenology
• Historicism (Dilthey)
• Some Existentialists
• Heidegger's Philosophy
• Hermeneutics