Ortega y Gasset as a philosopher of development

Abstract

Gasset's philosophy focuses on the concept of culture and its place in human existence. He conceives life as a shipwreck, and culture the life boat or live jacket in the midst of the shipwreck. In this manner, culture for Ortega is the material and immaterial inventions by the human person in order to guarantee satisfactory and comfortable living of the human person. Consequently culture has a purpose, which is, sustaining the human person in existence. The argument of this discourse is that issues of sustenance of the human person are necessarily issues of development. Development is about sustenance of the human person. Therefore, just as Ortega is qualified to be called a philosopher of culture, he is also by that token qualified to be philosopher of development; as culture and development are two concepts that speak of sustenance of the human person.

Key Words: Ortega y Gasset, Development, The Human Person, Sustainable Societal development.