Ortega y Gasset and the Bigotry of Culture

This chapter outlines Ortega y Gasset’s views on the role of culture in modern society and the malaises that affect it. The Spanish philosopher presents some flaws of modern culture in terms of bigotry and relates it to another phenomenon essential to modern science: specialization. The chapter shows how these traits of modern culture are the result of the emergence of a new kind of human being, a new anthropological category: the mass-man, as presented in his work The Revolt of the Masses. The idea of progressivism falls short: on the contrary, culture calls for problematicness, drama, danger, and uncertainty, all elements that also mark life. The chapter concludes by pinpointing the strict connection between culture and life.