The select minority
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Question
Ortega's 'select minority'?
Answer
A type (not a class) who demands much of himself, lives by high standards, and serves something beyond himself.
Question
What does Ortega mean by the 'noble life'?
Answer
A life of self-demand and service — 'noble' meaning that, NOT birth or title; open to anyone.
Question
The three marks of the select person?
Answer
Demands much of himself, lives by high standards, and serves something beyond himself.
Question
The craftsman-at-dawn image?
Answer
The select person imposes a hard discipline on himself, freely, to do the thing well — obeying a rule he didn't have to accept.
Question
How is the select person the mirror of the mass man?
Answer
The mass man asks nothing of himself; the select person is never quite satisfied and always demands more of himself.
Question
Is 'noble' about wealth or class?
Answer
No — it's about self-demand and service; a poor person can be 'noble', a lord can be pure 'mass'.
Question
One reason the select ideal is inspiring?
Answer
Self-demand and service really are admirable, and the ideal is open to anyone — no birth or wealth required.
Question
The 'flattering mirror' objection?
Answer
Readers quietly place themselves among the 'select' and others among the 'mass' — so the theory feels true while ranking people to suit the ranker.
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Full study notes for The select minority
Topic 10.7 hub
The Revolt of the Masses — Ortega y Gasset
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