Philosophy as a way of life

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• sramsay · Mar 20, 2014 · Recommends

  …think it takes a very profound (and by no means simple or obvious) set of ideas and reduces it to a kind of intellectual fad diet. For something weightier, you might look at the works of Pierre Hadot (Philosophy as a Way of Life and What is Ancient Philosophy?), both of which contain excellent discussions of stoicism.

  on “What if you didn't need money or attention?” ↗
• 0xmattf · Jan 20, 2026 · Recommends

  I only read non-fiction; mostly philosophy. Here are some books off the top of my head: * The Inner Citadel/Philosophy as a Way of Life by Pierre Hadot * Plato's dialogues (someone already mentioned a few of them, but the Republic was missing from their list). * Epictetus (Discourses and Enchiridion) * The various essays/letters of…

  on “Ask HN: What non-fiction do you read?” ↗
• voidhorse · Apr 17, 2017 · Recommends

  …propositional structure of that text is more or less a smokescreen--W., like Socrates, like Nietzsche, presents a mask--remove the numbers, re-title it "Aphorisms"--has anything changed? Hadot's book, Philosophy as a Way of Life is a great study on this shift from philosophy as lived, therapeutic practice to philosophy as a primarily textual, abstract, academic profession--and like all professions, limited by exterior considerations.

  on “Emil Cioran: Anti-philosopher of Life and Death” ↗
• capedape · May 3, 2011 · Recommends

  I quite liked "Philosophy as a Way of Life: Spiritual Exercises from Socrates to Foucault" by Hadot http://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Way-Life-Spiritual-Exercise...

  on “Ask HN: Can anyone recommend some philosophy reading?” ↗
• mikearagua · May 11, 2018 · Recommends

  If you like Stoicism you should try Pierre Hadot's What is Ancient Philosophy and at least the main essay from Philosophy as a Way of Life. He's an excellent writer and you can get other useful perspectives from the other ancient schools. The Epicurean take on pleasure (absence from pain) is helpful as well as the ancient skeptical practice…

  on “Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?” ↗
• dcre · Dec 6, 2020 · Recommends

  Giving a short list of recommendations feels a little silly because it's so personal and contingent what will work for you at this moment. However, I'll make one concrete recommendation: Philosophy as a Way of Life by Pierre Hadot. It's about the ancient Greeks and the Stoics and the particular ways they saw thinking as bound up with living. It's a serious book but beautifully written. It is discussed more at length…

  on “Ask HN: Learning about philosophy” ↗
• SeamusBrady · Mar 13, 2010 · Mentions

  …disturb yourself with emotional upheavals about that which one can do nothing. The French philosopher Pierre Hadot summarised the four features that constitute the universal Stoic attitude in his book "Philosophy as a way of life". These are: - We are part of of a Cosmic Whole, made up of the totality of the universe and the totality of all human beings - There is nothing evil in nature. The only evil is moral evil in humans.…

  on “On the Shortness of Life - Seneca (50 AD)” ↗