Summary
Pierre Hadot: Don't forget you're alive Goethe and the tradition of spiritual exercises
One of the greatest French connoisseurs of ancient philosophy, Pierre Hudot, is considered an equally great expert on Goethe. The motive that guided him in the study of ancient philosophers - philosophy not simply as a theoretical discipline, but as a way of life - also guides him in the interpretations of the great German poet. The theme of the book about Goethe is spiritual exercises. This term, as Hudot emphasizes, does not have a religious connotation, but refers to acts of intellect, imagination or will that are characterized by purposefulness. The purpose, on the other hand, is the transformation of oneself, improvement. That is why, in the first exercise inspired by Goethe, it is necessary to face the present moment, it is necessary to discard the weights of the past, that is, the future. Another exercise is to step away from individual things and face the whole. The third exercise relies on Goethe's basic attitude: man is a being of hope. For all that, for peace with yourself and the world, memento mori, don't forget you're mortal, which means: don't forget you're alive.
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