Technique and Thought in Ortega y Gasset

Abstract

Ortega's reflexions about technique touch on the key points of his thought, which revolve around the concept of the self as a dramatic reality. His argument consists in the problematic realization of the self within the hostile world; a technical problem, a cause of what he refers to as the technicalcharacter of human life in general. This general character also determines human knowledge, whichis defined by Ortega in a similar way as his concept of technique. Knowledge also tries to create asecure world and to overcome hostility of the circumstance in order to be able to project himself andrealize this project. However, there are differences between technique and knowledge. In fact, onlytechnique has the power to effectively modify external circumstances. It therefore becomes clear that the preeminence of technique over knowledge is what resolves the problem that life consists in. However, without denying at the same time the importance of the technique, Ortega seems to point out the preeminence of knowledge, more specifically of philosophy, thanks to which man achieves his maximum liberation and salvation.