The Essential Liberalism of José Ortega y Gasset
Journal: Philosophy Journal of the Higher School of Economics
Year: 2024

In “The Essential Liberalism of José Ortega y Gasset,” the author explores Ortega's philosophy of liberalism, which emphasizes the radical reality of individual life as the basis of freedom and society. Unlike doctrinal liberalism or the liberal traditions of the 19th century, Ortega's concept is rooted in his philosophy of “vital reason,” which posits life as a dynamic, self-creating process within historical circumstances. He argues that liberalism should enable personal life to flourish by pr