Abstract

This paper deals with the interpretation of Georg Simmel and Ortega y Gasset to the traditional metaphysic. At the first decade of the 20th century both philosophers appropriated the neo-Kantian approach to the objective of philosophy and did not consider the metaphysical discussion as pivot within the philosophical discussion. At the second decade of the 20th century they both formulated a philosophy which is based on the acknowledgement of the importance of metaphysic for dealing with the objectives of philosophy. The main contention in this article is that this evolution in their thought is best understood when considering their effort to rethink the relationship between philosophy and natural sciences. While they were delving into the history of philosophy they both agreed that the objective of philosophy must be completely differentiated from the objective of the natural sciences. Unlike the neo-Kantian philosophers they argued that philosophy must deal with “the totality of being” (Simmel) or “everything that exists” (Ortega). Based on this argument these two philosophers tried to explain why they could not continue to embrace the neo-Kantian philosophy which tied together the objectives of philosophy and these of the natural sciences.