Summary
Pierre Hadot: What is ancient philosophy?
In his most famous book What is ancient philosophy?, the French philosopher Pierre Hadot (1924-2010) follows the idea of philosophy as a way of life. Starting from the pre-Socratic period, through Plato and Aristotle and their philosophical schools, through Epicureanism and Stoicism, Hadot switches to philosophy from the era of the Roman Empire, where he particularly analyzes Stoic motifs and their relationship, and then devotes himself to Christianity and the Middle Ages in the last part of the book. Hadot's book - considering its systematicity, choice of motifs and methodology - can be read as the best possible textbook, but also as a philosophical text that dedicatedly, competently and independently follows the motif of philosophy as a way of life.
Hadot belongs to that type of philosophers for whom the history of philosophy serves as a reliable way to say something about the present, without, at the same time, going beyond the strict academic requirements and better customs of the study of ancient philosophy. For this reason, the reader can relax and enjoy Hadot's reliable expression supported by the most important works of ancient philosophy and the most influential interpretations, but the curious reader will not miss the selection of contemporary philosophical literature, which, in turn, indicates the hermeneutic position that Hadot takes. This experienced philosopher writes with a high awareness of the fact that direct access to ancient philosophy is not possible, i.e. that the ancient Greeks and ancient Romans, or the early Christian thinkers, can be reached through the tunnels of influential interpretations, but also through the passages cleared by philosophers such as Kant, Hegel, Nitzsche or Wittgenstein with their philosophies.
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