The Selected Writings of Pierre Hadot - (Re-Inventing Philosophy as a Way of Life)

Book Synopsis

This collection of writings from Pierre Hadot (1992-2010) presents, for the first time, previously unreleased and in some cases untranslated materials from one of the world's most prominent classical philosophers and historians of thought.

As a passionate proponent of philosophy as a 'way of life' (most powerfully communicated in the life of Socrates), Pierre Hadot rejuvenated interest in the ancient philosophers and developed a philosophy based on their work which is peculiarly contemporary. His radical recasting of philosophy in the West was both provocative and substantial. Indeed, Michel Foucault cites Pierre Hadot as a major influence on his work.

This beautifully written, lucid collection of writings will not only be of interest to historians, classicists and philosophers but also those interested in nourishing, as Pierre Hadot himself might have put it, a 'spiritual life'.

Review Quotes

"[A] great pleasure to read, inspirational in the immense historical reach and interpretative ambition evidenced by every essay, quite clear in its conceptual distinctions and articulations, and provocative." - Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"Pierre Hadot's book Philosophy as a Way of Life has, over the last 25 years, transformed how we think about philosophy. This new volume, long overdue, is its perfect companion, containing an equally valuable selection of Hadot's essays. It is essential reading for anyone interested in philosophy as a way of life. Testa and Sharpe are to be commended for making these essays available to an English-speaking audience." --John Sellars, Lecturer in Philosophy, Royal Holloway, University of London, United Kingdom

"An indispensable resource for anyone interested in ancient philosophy as a way of life. Hadot's writings, beautifully translated here by Sharpe and Testa, allow readers, once again, to engage with philosophies such Platonism and Stoicism as genuine lived practices rather than mere theories." --Donald Robertson, author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius (2019)

About the Author

Pierre Hadot was Professor Emeritus at the Collège de France. His books include Philosophy as a Way of Life (1995) and Plotinus (1998).

Matthew Sharpe teaches philosophy at Deakin University, Australia. He has written books on Albert Camus, Slavoj Zizek, critical theory and contemporary politics. He is presently working on a history of philosophy as a way of life in the West (Bloomsbury, 2019, with M. Ure).

Federico Testa is an Early Career Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Study at the University of Warwick. His current research focuses on Michel Foucault's politics of life, French contemporary philosophy and the revival of Hellenistic tradition within Modern and Contemporary philosophy.