Reading & the Good Life
Join the conversation! Every Friday at noon EST, Perennial Meditations readers are welcome to gather for Reading & the Good Life (Register here), a space for connection, contemplation, and conversations on the art of living!
We are continuing our exploration of philosophy as a way of life and the notion of spiritual exercises through Philosophy as a Way of Life by the French philosopher and historian Pierre Hadot (1922—2010) through the end of April.
***For May, we’ll transition to the practice of solitude through Stephen Batchelor’s book The Art of Solitude.
Who is Pierre Hadot?
Pierre Hadot was a classical philosopher and historian of philosophy. He is best known for his conception of ancient philosophy as a bios or way of life. His work has been widely influential in classical studies and on thinkers. According to Hadot, modern academic philosophy has largely lost sight of its ancient origin in a set of spiritual practices that range from forms of dialogue via species of meditative reflection to theoretical contemplation. The goal of the ancient philosophies, Hadot argued, was to cultivate a specific, constant attitude toward existence by way of the rational comprehension of the nature of humanity and its place in the cosmos. […]
Learn more: https://iep.utm.edu/hadot/
Selected Passages
The following passages from Philosophy as a Way of Life by Pierre Hadot will help guide our upcoming conversation (Register here). Consider reflecting on the following questions: (1) How would one embody these lessons in daily life? (2) What might make it challenging to implement these ideas? (3) How can the following insights help us to live the good life?
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