Three Spanish Philosophers

Jose Ferrater Mora

Description

This collection provides an excellent introduction to three of the most important names in twentieth-century Spanish philosophy: Miguel de Unamuno (1864–1936), José Ortega y Gasset (1883–1955), and José Ferrater Mora (1912–1991). The thought-provoking work of these great contemporary philosophers offers a rich and penetrating insight into human existence. Originally written by Ferrater Mora in the middle of the last century, his interpretations of Unamuno and Ortega are considered classics, and the chapter on his own thought reflects his mature thinking about being and death. Each essay is introduced by noted Ferrater Mora scholar J. M. Terricabras and contains updated biographical and bibliographic information.

Introduction

Part I: Unamuno: A Philosophy of Tragedy

Editor's note
Text
Biographical Note
Unamuno's Works
Selected Bibliography on Unamuno

Part II: Ortega y Gasset: An Outline of His Philosophy

Editor's note
Text
Biographical Note
Ortega y Gasset's Works
Selected Bibliography on Ortega y Gasset

Part III: Ferrater Mora: Chapter Three of Being and Death

Editor's Note
Text
Biographical Note
Ferrater Mora's Works
Selected Bibliography on Ferrater Mora

Index of Persons

Index of Subjects

Sujets

• Philosophy
• 20th century
• Spain
• History of Europe
• Spain (groupe)
• Portugal

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791486948
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Three Spanish Philosophers

SUNY series in Latin American and Iberian Thought and Culture

Jorge J. E. Gracia and Rosemary Geisdorfer Real, Editors

Three Spanish Philosophers

Unamuno, Ortega, Ferrater Mora

José Ferrater Mora

Edited and with an Introduction by J. M. Terricabras

State University of New York Press

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2003 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address the State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207

Production by Michael Haggett Marketing by Fran Keneston

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication D ata

Ferrater Mora, José, 1912– [Selections. English. 2003] Three Spanish philosophers : Unamuno, Ortega, Ferrater Mora / José Ferrater Mora ; edited and with an introduction by J. M. Terricabras. p. cm. — (SUNY series in Latin American and Iberian thought and culture) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-5713-3 (alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7914-5714-1 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Unamuno, Miguel de, 1864–1936. 2. Ortega y Gasset, Josâ, 1883–1955. 3. Death. I. Terricabras, Josep-Maria, 1946– II. Title. III. Series.

B4568.U54 F3913 2003 196'.1—dc21

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2002030967

At the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first, Latinos were the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States. I am sure that the children of many immigrants read and write Spanish fluently, but no doubt there are many who do not, and it is to those that this book is dedicated, so that they may have the opportunity to see that there is much that is written by Spanish-speaking people that has enriched contemporary culture, and of which they should be very proud. Ferrater Mora was born and educated in Spain, traveled to Cuba as a refugee from the Spanish Civil War, lived in Chile, lectured in Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and lived and taught for over forty years in the United States, later returning to Spain to give numerous lectures. His thought is thus the product of both the Spanish- and the English-speaking worlds.

Priscilla Cohn (widow of Ferrater Mora)

This page intentionally left blank.

Introduction

Contents

Part I Unamuno: A Philosophy of T ragedy Editor’s note Text Biographical Note Unamuno’s Works Selected Bibliography on Unamuno

Part II Ortega y Gasset: An Outline of His Philosophy Editor’s note Text Biographical Note Ortega y Gasset’s Works Selected Bibliography on Ortega y Gasset

Part III Ferrater M ora: Chapter T hree ofBeing and Death Editor’s Note Text Biographical Note Ferrater Mora’s Works Selected Bibliography on Ferrater Mora Index of Persons Index of Subjects

vii

1

9 11 13 105 106 114

123 125 127 191 192 201

209 211 213 257 259 262 263 267

This page intentionally left blank.

Introduction

Twentieth-century Spanish philosophy lacks the significance and the interna- tional influence it might have had due, in part, to the fact that this century has been a particularly difficult one in Spain’s history. On the one hand, Spain has suffered two dictatorships: that of General Primo de Rivera, from 1923 to 1930, and then that of General Franco, from 1939 to 1975. The latter was preceded by three years of civil war (from 1936 to 1939), the prelude to World War II. For decades afterward Spain suffered from poverty, division, and isolation. On the other hand, Spain is composed of territories that are highly diverse in culture, ways of life, and economic status. Not until the end of the twentieth century did some regions overcome their almost endemic underdevelopment and approach the more European standards of such ter- ritories as Catalonia and the Basque Country. Ideological repression and poor cultural development are then partly responsible for the fact that some of the most original Spanish philosophers have had to live abroad for long periods of their lives, and have had little relevance in their own country.

THREE PHILOSOPHERS

That is the case of the three philosophers presented in this book: Miguel de Unamuno (Bilbao, 1864–Salamanca, 1936), José Ortega y Gasset (Madrid, 1883–1955), and José Ferrater Mora (Barcelona, 1912–1991). Although be- longing to three different generations, these three philosophers—who to- gether with Xavier Zubiri, 1898–1983, are the most important Spanish philosophers of the century—suffered in the flesh some of the political vicis- situdes of Spain’s recent history and were forced into exile: Unamuno during the first dictatorship, Ortega and Ferrater Mora during the second one. The value of the studies collected in this volume lies not only in the possibility for the reader to see these three philosophers all at once, but also in the fact that their thoughts are viewed through the eyes of the youngest

1