In What is Ancient Philosophy? Pierre Hadot shows us the more practical side of philosophy, based on the way it was practices by its originators in ancient Greece over two thousand years ago. Hadot teaches us about the different schools of philosophy that existed at the time, and delineates their similarities and differences in an … Read more
To be aware of ourselves thus means to be aware of our moral state. This is what the tradition of Christian spirituality calls the examination of the conscience, a practice which was very widespread in the philosophical schools of antiquity. This practice has its roots, first of all, in the simple fact that in all … Read more
Silent meditation could be practiced while standing motionless – this was Socrates’ way-or while walking, as in the following verses by Horace: “Do you go silently, tiptoeing through the healthful woods, harboring in your mind all the thoughts worthy of a sage and a good man?” Likewise, the Stoic Epictetus: “Go for a walk alone, … Read more
Yet philosophical discourse is required in order to eliminate philosophical discourse. We know this Skeptical philosophical dis¬ course thanks to Sextus Empiricus, a physician who wrote at the end of the second century A.D. Sextus also gives us precious information on the history of the Skeptic movement. The Skeptics considered Pyrrho the model of the … Read more
The Stoic experience consists in becoming sharply aware of the tragic situation of human beings, who are conditioned by fate. It would seem that we are not free at all, for it is not up to us to be beautiful, strong, healthy, or rich, to feel pleasure, or to escape suffering. All these things depend … Read more
People’s unhappiness comes from the fact that they want to obtain what they think is good, or to escape what they think is bad. It doesn’t matter what we do, so long as we do it with an attitude of indifference. Thus, according to Pyrrho’s philosophy our goal should be to seek stability in a … Read more
A MAN once caught a bird. The bird said to him, ‘I am no use to you as a captive. But let me free, and I will tell you three valuable pieces of advice.’ The bird promised to give the first piece of advice while still in the man’s grasp, the second when he reached … Read more
THERE was once a dervish who embarked upon a sea journey. Asthe other passengers in the ship came aboard one by one, they sawhim and-as is the custom—asked him for a piece of advice. All thedervish would do was to say the same thing to each one of them:he seemed merely to be repeating one … Read more
THERE was once a good man. He had spent his whole life in cultivating the qualities enjoined upon those who would reach Paradise. He gave freely to the poor, he loved his fellow creatures and he served them. Remembering the need to have patience, he endured great and unexpected hardships, often for the sake of … Read more
A MAN who was troubled in mind once swore that if his problemswere solved he would sell his house and give all the money gainedfrom it to the poor. The time came when he realized that he must redeem his oath.But he did not want to give away so much money. So he thoughtof a … Read more