Rousseau’s Critique of Enlightenment & Ortega’s Philosophy of Life
Rousseau’s Critique of the Enlightenment
Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts (1750)
In his Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts, Rousseau argued that the advancement of science and arts had corrupted, not purified, human morals. He believed that civilization created artificial needs, enslaving humanity and fostering hypocrisy. Rousseau contended that human vices like ambition, avarice, and idle curiosity fueled the pursuit of knowledge, even in morality.
Discourse on the Origin of Inequality (1754)
Rousseau’s Discourse on the Origin of Inequality explored the hypothetical “natural state” of humankind before the formation of societies. He posited the “noble savage” as a happy, free individual, uncorrupted by civilization and driven by genuine needs. Rousseau argued that the complexities of community, division of labor, and ultimately, private property, led to dependency and corruption.
Ortega y Gasset’s Philosophy of Life
Sociocultural and Historical Context
Ortega y Gasset’s work was deeply influenced by the sociocultural climate of Spain, marked by the loss of colonies, political upheaval (dictatorship, republic, civil war), industrial and cultural backwardness, and widespread illiteracy. He belonged to the Generation of ’14, a group of intellectuals concerned with Spain’s modernization and integration with Europe.
Philosophical Influences and Main Ideas
Ortega y Gasset drew inspiration from German philosophers like Neo-Kantians, Husserl, Heidegger, and Nietzsche. He believed that reality was not solely the external world or the thinking self, but the coexistence of both – life itself. He emphasized the importance of individual experience and awareness, recognizing life as both fate and freedom, future and project.
The Concept of Circumstance
Ortega y Gasset introduced the concept of “circumstance” to encompass all realities and the questions they raise. Circumstance is not just the world around us, but an integral part of life itself.
Perspective and Truth
Rejecting both relativism and rationalism, Ortega y Gasset viewed truth as perspectival, a changing view of life shaped by individual experience. He argued that this individual perspective is the only way to grasp reality, contrasting it with the “pure reason” of abstract, unchanging truths.