Philosophy as a Way of Life

Pierre Hadot is Professor of the History of Hellenistic and Roman Thought at the College de France. He studied philosophy at the Sorbonne from 1942 to 1946, later becoming first a researcher and then director of studies at the École Practique des Hautes Études in Paris. He is the author of several landmark essays, collected together in Exercices Spirituels et Philosophie Antique (Second Edition, 1987).

Translator's Note. Introduction.

Part I: Method: .

1. Forms of Life and Forms of Discourse in Ancient Philosophy.

2. Philosophy, Exegesis and Creative Mistakes.

Part II: Spiritual Exercise: .

3. Spiritual Exercise.

4. Ancient Spirituality and 'Christian Philosophy.'.

Part III: Figures: .

5. Figure of Socrates.

6. Marcus Aurelius.

7. Reflections of the Idea of the 'Cultivation of the Self'.

Part IV: Themes:.

8. Only the Present is our Happiness.

9. The View From Above.

10. The Sage and the World.

11. Philosophy as a Way of Life.

Postscript.

Bibliography.

Index.