Understanding Human Existence: Circumstances, Authenticity, and Beliefs
Understanding Human Existence
Me and My Circumstances. Ortega introduces the concept of avoiding starting over without intellectual seriousness. This idea, interpreted as the announcement of his later philosophical stage, emphasizes the importance of human life within the world. It’s not just a sum of things, but a scenario where the ego operates. Our life is a dynamic process of dealing with the world. Life as a Chore. This new concept of metaphysics of life places the individual outside of their own tragedy. The identity of each person is their own project, the role they choose to play in their existence. A life without a vital project is not authentic, it simply does not exist. Thrown into circumstances, one must determine their path. Man is not defined by what has passed, but by their history.
Authenticity, Life, and Culture. Every person is a vital program, a scheme seeking to live. Human reality admits degrees of being. Authentic life is when one is faithful to their inner voice. Inauthentic life is when one neglects their original vocation and abandons themselves to the typical. Life is a problem, a pursuit, a concern with itself, a vital program, and ultimately, a sinking. Ortega’s approach to life appeals to history, but also precedes it.
Belief. Culture must be authenticated, though we can never be sure if it is. We have no choice but to search. Ortega stated that a man without convictions is a fictitious entity.
Ideas and Beliefs. Ideas are thoughts that come to mind, which we can consider, adopt, and imitate. They are occurrences, unique thoughts emerging from human life. Beliefs, however, are not derived from specific acts of thinking; they are already within us, the substance of our lives. Ideas are the subject of our discourse, while beliefs are the subject of our assumptions.
Various Types of Beliefs. Beliefs are not limited to a single type. They are thoughts, sometimes unformulated, that we hold, push, and guide our behavior. The belief in regularities governing natural phenomena has the same function as the belief that we will continue to live.