Week 0

 "I am I plus my circumstances"

Ortega y Gasset (Spanish philosopher and humanist , 1883- 1955) 



  We live in troubled times where competitiveness, savage individualism and consumerism are values ​​that prevail in our world. It seems that we are losing humanity; the virus of indifference is inoculated in our blood, minds, souls and hearts. Sometimes we are like robots that don't feel or suffer, and because of the lack of humanity we lose our dignity.

 
  The culture of today’s society is mostly based on selfishness, from governments which are living a great corruption and a constant struggle for power without any concern for people's needs, to the big businessmen who only seek to increase their wealth earning high returns on their investments through the hard work of people who are exploited, underpaid or without benefits.

  In today’s society, Philosophy seems to be something that does not worth for absolutely nothing. However, it is an important aspect in building the personality.
       

  Philosophy, by etymology, definition, and essence, describes itself as love of wisdom. It aims to teach critical thinking and make reasoned judgments. It helps us to seek the truth. Most of the major issues (if not all) of concern to humanity have always been thought and addressed already by philosophers: each of them has given its response, has been challenged, supported or supplemented by another point of view, and this greatly helps us to develop our reasoning and to form our own ideas.

  People with a philosophical knowledge have a strong personality, their own criteria. They are not easily influenced by the opinions of the environment, by fashion, by lobbies or pressure groups. This people are not malleable, they have serious convictions; they are not changing their ideas with the wind that blows in every moment. Philosophy leads us in the pursuit of truth, honesty, integrity... concepts that seem to be in crisis nowadays.