Pierre Hadot

One of the most influential historians of ancient philosophy.

Pierre Hadot, classical philosopher and historian of philosophy, is best known for his conception of ancient philosophy as a bios or way of life (manière de vivre). His work has been widely influential in classical studies and on thinkers, including Michel Foucault. According to Hadot, twentieth- and twenty-first-century academic philosophy has largely lost sight of its ancient origin in a set of spiritual practices that range from forms of dialogue, via species of meditative reflection, to theoretical contemplation.

These philosophical practices, as well as the philosophical discourses the different ancient schools developed in conjunction with them, aimed primarily to form, rather than only to inform, the philosophical student. The goal of the ancient philosophies, Hadot argued, was to cultivate a specific, constant attitude toward existence, by way of the rational comprehension of the nature of humanity and its place in the cosmos.

Philosopher's Notes on Pierre Hadot's Books

LockedPhilosopher's Notes

The Inner Citadel

by Pierre Hadot

Pierre Hadot was one of the most influential historians of ancient philosophy. In this book, he gives us an incredible look at Marcus Aurelius and his classic Meditations. You can feel Hadot’s incredible intellectual rigor and equally incredible passion for engaged philosophy. It’s inspiring. Big Ideas we explore include spiritual exercises, your inner citadel, your daimōn, amor fate, turning obstacles upside down and carpe areté.

Quotes by Pierre Hadot

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At every instant, I encounter the event which has been reserved for me by Destiny; that is, in the last analysis, the unique, universal, and common Cause of all things. The discipline of desire will therefore consist in refusing to desire anything other than what is willed by the Nature of All.

Pierre Hadot

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For the Stoics, arete is absolute value, based no longer on warrior nobility, but on the nobility of the soul represented by the purity of our intentions.

Pierre Hadot

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Most people are not alive, because they do not live in the present, but are always outside of themselves, alienated, and dragged backwards and forwards by the past and by the present. They do not know that the present is the only point at which they are truly themselves and free. The present is the only point which, thanks to our action and our consciousness, gives us access to the totality of the world.

Pierre Hadot

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If our activity is animated by the perfectly pure intention of wishing only for good, it attains its goal at every instant, and has no need to wait for its achievement and result to come from the future.

Pierre Hadot

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Only the present is within our power, simply because the only thing that we live is the present moment. Becoming aware of the present means becoming aware of our freedom.

Pierre Hadot