Ortega y Gasset sociologo

The article offers evidences for the hypothesis that Ortega y Gasset can be considered for all practical purposes as a sociologist, despite the fact that he has been generally viewed as a philosopher. Several arguments of his works show his contribution to the political sociology, the sociology of culture, and the sociological analysis of masses, as well as to a theory of action, where his most important sources are Durkheim and Weber. In arguing for this characterization of Ortega y Gasset, the article does not focus on his best known book, La Rebelion de las Masas. Rather, It takes into account three aspects, which are crucial for revealing such a sociological profile: his methodological perspective, based on the Neo-Kantianism (especially Simmel), his theory of action and, finally, the relationship between individual and society as it is discussed in his works