José Ortega y Gasset

In the disturbances caused by scarcity of food, the mob goes in search of bread, and the means it employs is generally to wreck the bakeries. This may serve as a symbol of the attitude adopted, on a greater and more complicated scale, by the masses of today towards the civilization by which they are supported.

One thought on “José Ortega y Gasset

  1. shinichi Post author

    The Revolt of the Masses

    by José Ortega y Gasset

    (1929)

    http://pinkmonkey.com/dl/library1/revolt.pdf

    CHAPTER VI

    THE DISSECTION OF THE MASS-MAN BEGINS

    My thesis, therefore, is this: the very perfection with which the 19th century gave an organization to certain orders of existence has caused the masses benefited thereby to consider it, not as an organized, but as a natural system. Thus is explained and defined the absurd state of mind revealed by these masses; they are only concerned with their own well-being, and at the same time they remain alien to the cause of that well-being. As they do not see, behind the benefits of civilization, marvels of invention and construction which can only be maintained by great effort and foresight, they imagine that their role is limited to demanding these benefits peremptorily, as if they were natural rights. In the disturbances caused by scarcity of food, the mob goes in search of bread, and the means it employs is generally to wreck the bakeries. This may serve as a symbol of the attitude adopted, on a greater and more complicated scale, by the masses of today towards the civilization by which they are supported.

    Civilization is not “just here,” it is not self-supporting.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *