Teoría e historia: la ciencia económica en la obra de Ortega y Gasset
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2026
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Ediciones Complutense
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Clar Moliner E. (2026). Teoría e historia. La ciencia económica en la obra de Ortega y Gasset. Iberian Journal of the History of Economic Thought, 13(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.5209/ijhe.103239
Abstract
José Ortega y Gasset, el principal filósofo español del siglo XX, abordó puntualmente en su obra el estado y la evolución de la economía desde el siglo XIX. Crítico con el enfoque abstracto y positivista asumido por la disciplina, rechazó la influencia excesiva de las ciencias naturales sobre las humanidades, ignorando la libertad y la complejidad del ser humano. Opuesto al mecanicismo implícito tanto en el utilitarismo milliano como en el economicismo marxista, propuso una economía entendida como ciencia histórica y vinculada a la cultura, pero sin olvidar su pretensión normativa. Entroncando con sus posiciones filosóficas, es posible insertar sus reflexiones dentro del debate entre teoría e historia que se sucedió desde el inicio de la “disputa del método” (Methodenstreit). Crítico también con el “homo economicus” y con el “economismo” reduccionista, pensó en una economía centrada en la escasez, lo superfluo y la vida, en diálogo con la filosofía y las humanidades.
Abstract José Ortega y Gasset, the most prominent Spanish philosopher of the 20th century, addressed the situation and evolution of economics since the 19th century in various passages of his work. Critical of the abstract and positivist approach adopted by the discipline, he rejected the excessive influence of the natural sciences on the humanities, which he believed ignored human freedom and complexity. Opposed to the mechanistic assumptions present in both Millian utilitarianism and Marxist economism, he proposed an understanding of economics as a historical science linked to culture, yet still retaining its normative aspirations. Rooted in his philosophical stance, his reflections can be placed within the debate between theory and history that unfolded since the beginning of the so-called Methodenstreit. Critical as well of the concept of homo economicus and of reductionist economism, he envisioned economics as focused on scarcity, the superfluous and life, in dialogue with philosophy and the humanities.
Abstract José Ortega y Gasset, the most prominent Spanish philosopher of the 20th century, addressed the situation and evolution of economics since the 19th century in various passages of his work. Critical of the abstract and positivist approach adopted by the discipline, he rejected the excessive influence of the natural sciences on the humanities, which he believed ignored human freedom and complexity. Opposed to the mechanistic assumptions present in both Millian utilitarianism and Marxist economism, he proposed an understanding of economics as a historical science linked to culture, yet still retaining its normative aspirations. Rooted in his philosophical stance, his reflections can be placed within the debate between theory and history that unfolded since the beginning of the so-called Methodenstreit. Critical as well of the concept of homo economicus and of reductionist economism, he envisioned economics as focused on scarcity, the superfluous and life, in dialogue with philosophy and the humanities.