Ortega y Gasset’s Philosophy: Context, Vitalism, and Integration
Contextualization
Ortega’s work belongs to the theme of our time. His biography coincides with a time of conflict in Europe. We will discuss the key influences on our author.
The Problem in Spain
There is a reference to the question of Spain after the defeat of 1898. The Spanish society fell into a general pessimism. In this context, philosophy was oriented towards the Europeanization of Spain and marked a break with nihilistic pessimism.
The Republican Solution
We must also mention the Second Republic and the Civil War. As is well known, Ortega criticized the Spanish monarchy. We must emphasize the error of his article on Berenguer and the group’s foundation to serve the republic. The substitution of the monarchy with the republic was raised. Once the monarchy was liquidated, the country would be politically upgraded. Following clashes between political parties and the Civil War, Ortega left Spain.
Vitalism and Historicism
During the second half of the 19th century, science advanced greatly. By the end of the century, it was widely believed that science was the only valid form of knowledge. In this environment, philosophy attempted to break through, trying to demonstrate that philosophical thought was capable of showing a single, unitary image of the world. This period includes the maturity of Ortega’s early decades. In 20th-century thought, there are two lines: vitalism and historicism.
Vitalism
The term ‘vital’ applies to a group of philosophers who acknowledged that life was the center of their speculations. They defended that life could not be explained only with science. Authors such as Nietzsche and Bergson defended this idea.
Historicism
Historicism intended to provide a method for understanding the historicity of man. It argued that human nature was so historical that we cannot know what man is without knowing what man has been. Philosophers such as Dilthey and Spengler defended this idea.
In relation to the annotated text, we will proceed to interrelate the philosophy of Ortega with an opposite position, such as Ferrater’s integrationism.
Ratio-vitalism and Integration
In the first place, there are certain similarities. Ratio-vitalism sought a philosophical position of equilibrium between different perspectives. It pretended to avoid the weaknesses of two types of thought: humanism and scientism.
The Metaphysical Question
Secondly, by adopting its integrationist position versus Ortega, who had defended that the fundamental reality of human life was the key to explaining the world, Ferrater proposed that reality is formed as a continuum of interrelated levels, which would be:
- Continuous physical-organic: physical objects as living beings. Organisms are not different from their physical and chemical structures.
- Continuous social-organic: although not bodies, social behavior and cooperation allow us to accept the existence of this reality.
- Continuous social-cultural: the cultural level of activities comes from certain social agencies, etc., in learning traditions.
In synthesis, according to Ferrater Mora, the universe is without a set plan or purpose, and the conclusion is to take the development of integration as a ratio-vitalism.