Counterwill and Logical Priority Over Ideas: Two Constituents of Our Basic Convictions

Abstract

Ortega was very ambiguous in regard to the clarification of whether ideas are logical and even chronological prior to beliefs or vice versa. Wittgenstein, on the other hand, showed clearly that ideas cannot be elaborated without taking account of prior beliefs or certainties that allow us to take part in those language-games in which ideas are developed. Moreover, in this paper I will also reveal that Ortega’s work is of great help in resolving an issue that Wittgenstein tackled superficially, that is, the possibility of adopting certainties or beliefs at will. Related to this, Ortega explains why beliefs constitute our very reality, which he characterizes as counterwill, i. e. something which is already there, so that we neither put it nor make it. Once these mutual contributions have been exposed, it is shown how they can be incorporated into both authors’ works without distorting them.