Being-in-the-world and Life

The Meeting Point of José Ortega y Gasset and Martin Heidegger

Abstract

This article explores the philosophical dialogue and intersections between two prominent 20th-century thinkers: José Ortega y Gasset and Martin Heidegger. Despite their different cultural and linguistic contexts, their reflections converge on questions of human existence and engagement with the world. The study examines their central concepts, such as Heidegger’s “being-in-the-world” and Ortega’s “ideas and beliefs,” providing an in-depth look at how humans interpret and inhabit reality. The analysis highlights both differences and parallels in their approaches to examining the world and human existence. While Heidegger employs a terminology rich in philosophical neologisms, his analysis of Dasein and care (Sorge) resonates with Ortega’s concept of the “radical reality” of life. Conversely, Ortega emphasizes the necessity of engaging a broad audience and stresses the role of human imagination in constructing the world. The article also investigates the importance of cognition as a mode of “being-in-the-world” for both philosophers. Despite methodological differences, both thinkers conclude that the human being and the world they inhabit are inseparably linked. This work deepens the understanding of philosophical resonances between two intellectual traditions and offers new directions for further study.