Ortega y Gasset‘s intellectual biography and creative outlook

Abstract

The article presents the biography of José Ortega y Gasset (1883-1955) is one of the most outstanding 20th century Spanish thinkers and culturologists. He was an excellent philosopher of universal academic interests, a subtle essayist, and a famous cultural critic. Many interpreters and critics admire his talents, unique erudition, and profound insights; and he himself has been characterized as a world-acclaimed philosopher, a “grandee of Spanish culture,” whose life, creative activity, and a clear civic position of a humanist sets an example to many West European intellectuals, thinkers, artists, and even politicians. The Authoress also presents his role in culture. According to her it should be noted that the influence of Ortega’s philosophy was strong and many-sided; his ideas were a bond that joined Spanish philosophy with Europe. Moreover, “his language style influenced Spanish literature and journalism”19. Having spread from Spain to other countries, Ortega’s ideas exerted a big influence upon the development of all West European culture as well as upon Spanish-speaking Latin American intellectuals and artists. His works translated into many languages and university courses that analyze this thinker’s philosophy show that Ortega’s culturological ideas and analyzed problems remain significant and relevant to our modern world.