The Construction of Scientific Knowledge as an Ethical-Political Imperative in the Thought of José Ortega y Gasset

Abstract

Facing the critical attitude toward technology of other thinkers of his time, Ortega focuses in an original and positive form the problem Günther Anders called the “Promethean shame”, derived from the lack of control over technological power that man himself has created. Indeed, Ortega makes a positive reading of the process of technological development, but although his performance culminates denouncing the lack of human control over technology, appeals to the possibility of recovering the control. Thus, compared to the readings that are installed in the diagnosis of the reasons for the “Promethean shame” Ortega goes further and makes a political-ethical proposal for recovery of social control of technological advances. His proposal is based on performing a vital educational work, which begins in clarifying the concept of science and its role in society. The ultimate goal of this work is to analyze, especially from his correspondence and working notes, key some aspects of its proposal.