The Philosopher’s Arrogance: Comments on El sentido de la filosofía. Estudios sobre José Gaos by Antonio Zirión Quijano]

Abstract

Antonio Zirión Quijano, editor of José Gaos’ Complete Works, has brought together in El sentido de la filosofía all the texts he has published on Gaos, a very important philosopher for the reception of phenomenology in Mexico. In my comments on this book, I first compare the stance of Fernando Salmerón, the previous editor of Gaos’ works, with Zirión’s view on Gaos’ conception of metaphysics, an extreme subjectivism in which the figure of the philosopher stands out as an arrogant, determined to carry out an impossible task. Later, I point out the concerns that Zirión expresses for this pessimistic view with increasing emphasis throughout the series of essays in the first part of his book.