Pierre Hadot, Philosophy as Way of Life | Spiritual Exercises & Philosophy | Core Concepts

Summary

Dr. Gregory Sadler, a philosophy professor and founder of Reason IO, introduces a series of short videos focusing on core philosophical concepts. In this segment, he discusses 'spiritual exercises' from Pierre Hadot's 'Philosophy as a Way of Life,' emphasizing their role in transforming thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Hadot argues that philosophy is an art of living, involving cognitive, ethical, and metaphysical aspects, aiming for self-realization and autonomy. The video bridges ancient philosophies with modern existentialism and pragmatism, highlighting the continuous practice of spiritual exercises for personal growth.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Dr. Gregory Sadler is a philosophy professor and founder of Reason IO, an educational consulting company that applies philosophy to real-life situations.
• 📚 He has over 20 years of experience in studying and teaching philosophy, aiming to make classic philosophical texts more accessible.
• 📹 Dr. Sadler produces lecture videos for YouTube, with a new series focusing on explaining core concepts from significant philosophical texts in shorter formats.
• 🧘‍♂️ The concept of 'spiritual exercises' from Pierre Hadot's 'Philosophy as a Way of Life' is central to understanding the application of philosophy in daily life.
• 📖 'Spiritual exercises' is a term that might be off-putting to modern readers due to its connotations, but it is necessary to convey the holistic nature of the practices.
• 🤔 Hadot argues that terms like 'psychic', 'moral', 'ethical', or 'intellectual' do not fully capture the essence of these exercises, which involve thought, imagination, and sensibility.
• 🌟 Spiritual exercises are not just about intellectual development but also about transforming one's vision of the world and personality.
• 🔍 Hadot connects the concept back to ancient philosophical traditions, showing that philosophy was seen as an 'art of living' rather than abstract theory.
• 🧠 The practices involve techniques of persuasion, mastering inner dialogue, and mental concentration, aiming for self-realization and improvement.
• 🌱 Ancient philosophies, despite their diversity, share a profound unity in the means and ends of spiritual exercises, focusing on self-formation and living in accordance with human nature.
• 🕊️ Freedom of the will, as discussed by Hadot, implies the ability to modify, improve, and realize our potential through the practice of spiritual exercises.

Q & A

Who is Dr. Gregory Sadler?

Dr. Gregory Sadler is a professor of philosophy and the president and founder of an educational consulting company called Reason IO.

What is the purpose of Reason IO?

Reason IO aims to put philosophy into practice, helping students and lifelong learners by making philosophical concepts more accessible.

What is the focus of the video series mentioned in the script?

The video series focuses on explaining one core concept from an important philosophical text in each short video.

What is the title of the book by Pierre Hadot that is discussed in the script?

The title of the book is 'Philosophy as a Way of Life'.

What does the term 'spiritual exercises' refer to in the context of Hadot's work?

In Hadot's work, 'spiritual exercises' refers to practices that engage the whole of one's existence to transform one's vision of the world and one's personality.

Why does Hadot choose to use the term 'spiritual exercises' despite it being disconcerting for contemporary readers?

Hadot chooses to use the term 'spiritual exercises' because it best captures the cognitive, ethical, and metaphysical aspects of the practices he describes.

How does Hadot differentiate 'spiritual exercises' from 'intellectual exercises'?

Hadot differentiates 'spiritual exercises' from 'intellectual exercises' by emphasizing the role of imagination and sensibility, which are not solely intellectual.

What is the connection between 'spiritual exercises' and ancient philosophy according to Hadot?

According to Hadot, 'spiritual exercises' are central to ancient philosophy, which was not just about abstract theory but also about the art of living and self-realization.

How does Hadot view the relationship between 'spiritual exercises' and the concept of freedom?

Hadot views 'spiritual exercises' as a means to realize the freedom of the will, allowing individuals to modify, improve, and realize themselves.

What does Hadot suggest is the role of philosophy in relation to spiritual exercises?

Hadot suggests that philosophy, when practiced as a way of life through spiritual exercises, involves a transformation of one's vision, lifestyle, and behavior.

What is the ultimate goal of practicing spiritual exercises according to Hadot?

The ultimate goal of practicing spiritual exercises, according to Hadot, is to live in conformity with human nature, achieve self-realization, and attain happiness through independence, freedom, and autonomy.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Spiritual Exercises in Philosophy

Dr. Gregory Sadler introduces himself as a philosophy professor and founder of Reason IO, an educational consulting company. He discusses the challenges people face when reading classic philosophical texts and his approach to making these concepts more accessible. Sadler mentions his YouTube lectures and introduces a new series of videos focusing on core concepts from philosophical texts. He begins with a discussion on 'spiritual exercises' from Pierre Hadot's 'Philosophy as a Way of Life,' explaining why Hadot chose this term and its significance in philosophy. Sadler elaborates on the broader meaning of 'spiritual' in French compared to English, highlighting the cognitive aspect involved. Hadot's view of spiritual exercises as thought exercises that involve the whole psyche is discussed, along with the exercises' role in transforming one's vision of the world and personality.

05:02

🏛️ The Role of Spiritual Exercises in Ancient Philosophy

Dr. Sadler delves into Hadot's exploration of spiritual exercises in the context of ancient Hellenistic and Roman philosophy, emphasizing their role as an art of living that engages the whole of existence. He contrasts this with modern interpretations and highlights the existential nature of these practices. Hadot's view is that philosophy was not just theoretical but a concrete lifestyle, which resonates with existentialist and pragmatic philosophies. The discussion includes the transformative nature of spiritual exercises, which are not merely intellectual but also ethical and metaphysical, aiming to change how we perceive and interact with the world. Sadler also touches on the unity of ancient philosophies as ways of life, despite their diverse practices, and the importance of techniques like persuasion, dialectics, and rhetoric in these exercises.

10:03

🧘‍♂️ Spiritual Practices for Self-Realization and Happiness

This section focuses on the purpose of spiritual exercises in ancient philosophy, which is self-realization and happiness. Dr. Sadler explains that these practices are not trivial but are meant to change one's life by aligning with human nature rather than societal conventions. The discussion includes the idea that much of human unhappiness stems from being enslaved to passions, and true happiness comes from independence and autonomy. Hadot argues that the philosophical schools of ancient times believed in the freedom of the will, not in the sense of arbitrary choice, but in the ability to modify and improve oneself. The philosopher's life is described as an intermediate state, not that of a sage but one of constant transformation and practice of spiritual exercises, which is a continuous process with potential for both progress and regression.

15:05

🌟 Spiritual Exercises as Essential to Philosophy as an Art of Living

Dr. Sadler concludes by emphasizing that for ancient philosophy, the practice of spiritual exercises is essential to living a philosophical life. He suggests that without these practices, there can be no true philosophy as an art of living. The discussion highlights that while not all modern philosophy fits this mold, ancient Western philosophy and other wisdom traditions do emphasize the importance of spiritual practices. The key takeaway is that philosophy is not just an academic discipline but a way of life that involves continuous self-improvement and alignment with one's true nature.

Keywords

💡Spiritual Exercises

Spiritual exercises, as discussed in the video, refer to practices that aim to transform an individual's way of thinking, feeling, and behaving. These exercises are not limited to religious contexts but are also found in philosophical traditions. In the video, Dr. Gregory Sadler explains that these exercises are central to Pierre Hadot's work, emphasizing that they are not just intellectual but involve the whole person, including the imagination and sensibility. They are meant to lead to a transformation of one's vision of the world and a metamorphosis of one's personality.

💡Philosophy as a Way of Life

This concept, central to the video, suggests that philosophy is not merely an academic discipline but a practical guide to living a better life. Dr. Sadler mentions that for ancient philosophers, philosophy was an 'art of living,' a concrete attitude and lifestyle that engages the whole of existence. It involves the practice of spiritual exercises to achieve self-realization and improvement, aligning with one's true nature and overcoming the enslavement to the passions.

💡Pierre Hadot

Pierre Hadot was a French philosopher who focused on the idea that ancient philosophy was a way of life. In the video, Dr. Sadler discusses Hadot's work, particularly his book 'Philosophy as a Way of Life,' where Hadot argues that philosophy involves spiritual exercises that lead to a transformation of the self. Hadot's perspective is used to illustrate the practical application of philosophy beyond theoretical knowledge.

💡Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Aspects

The video highlights the importance of considering both cognitive (intellectual) and non-cognitive (such as emotional and volitional) aspects in spiritual exercises. Dr. Sadler points out that while the intellect plays a significant role, it is not sufficient on its own. The exercises also engage the imagination and sensibility, aiming for a holistic transformation that includes ethical and metaphysical aspects.

💡Freedom of the Will

In the context of the video, freedom of the will is discussed as a philosophical concept that implies the ability to modify, improve, and realize oneself. Dr. Sadler explains that this does not mean one can choose anything and make it happen but rather that individuals have the capacity to apply themselves to change and improve their own lives, which is a key aspect of the spiritual exercises discussed.

💡Ancient Philosophy

Ancient philosophy, as referenced in the video, is not just about abstract theories but is deeply connected to practical living. Dr. Sadler uses the term to describe the philosophical practices of ancient Greece and Rome, where the goal was to achieve a certain way of life through spiritual exercises. These practices were meant to lead to self-realization and a better understanding of one's place in the world.

💡Self-Formation

Self-formation, as mentioned in the video, is the process of shaping oneself through philosophical practices and spiritual exercises. It is about educating oneself on how to live a good life and is closely tied to the concept of self-realization. Dr. Sadler explains that ancient philosophers saw philosophy as a means to form oneself into a better version, aligning with one's true nature and overcoming societal prejudices.

💡Enslavement to the Passions

The term 'enslavement to the passions' is used in the video to describe a state of unhappiness caused by desires for things that are external and beyond one's control. Dr. Sadler discusses how ancient philosophers believed that true happiness comes from independence, freedom, and autonomy, which are achieved through spiritual exercises that free one from the passions.

💡Inner Dialogue

Inner dialogue, as discussed in the video, refers to the ongoing conversation one has with oneself, often involving self-reflection and self-guidance. Dr. Sadler mentions that mastering one's inner dialogue is a key aspect of spiritual exercises, as it involves directing one's thoughts and emotions in a way that aligns with one's philosophical and ethical goals.

💡Conformity with Human Nature

Conformity with human nature, as explained in the video, is the idea of living in accordance with what is genuinely good or natural for humans, rather than following social conventions or prejudices. Dr. Sadler highlights that ancient philosophers believed in aligning one's life with a true understanding of human nature, which is a key goal of practicing spiritual exercises.

Highlights

Dr. Gregory Sadler introduces himself as a philosophy professor and founder of ReasonIO, an educational consulting company.

Sadler discusses the difficulty many face in reading classic philosophical texts and his role in making these concepts more accessible.

He mentions his YouTube channel and the new series of short videos focusing on core philosophical concepts.

The video focuses on Chapter 3 of Pierre Hadot's 'Philosophy as a Way of Life', discussing 'spiritual exercises'.

Hadot's use of 'spiritual exercises' is explained, emphasizing its necessity despite being out of fashion.

The term 'spiritual' is contrasted between its French and English meanings, highlighting a broader sense in French.

Hadot argues that 'spiritual exercises' is the most fitting term despite alternatives like 'psychic', 'moral', or 'intellectual'.

The exercises are described as thought taking itself as subject matter to modify itself.

Hadot's view on the inadequacy of 'intellectual exercises' due to the importance of imagination and sensibility is shared.

The term 'spiritual' is justified as it encompasses more than just thought but the individual's entire psychism.

Hadot differentiates his concept of 'spiritual exercises' from Ignatius of Loyola's Christian version.

The goal is to reconnect with ancient philosophical practices, not just those of Ignatius of Loyola.

Ancient philosophy is presented as an 'art of living', engaging the whole of existence, not just abstract theory.

Hadot's view that philosophy involves a transformation of vision, lifestyle, and behavior is discussed.

The means and ends of ancient philosophies are explored, including techniques of persuasion and mastering inner dialogue.

The pursuit of self-realization and self-formation through spiritual exercises is emphasized.

Hadot's assertion that happiness comes from independence, freedom, and autonomy is highlighted.

The importance of living in conformity with human nature, not social conventions, is discussed.

The philosopher's intermediate state between the non-philosophical and philosophical life is described.

Hadot's view that without spiritual practices, there is no real philosophy as an art of living, is summarized.

Transcripts

hi this is dr gregory sadler

i'm a professor of philosophy and the

president and founder of an educational

consulting company called reason i o

where we put philosophy into practice

i've studied and taught philosophy for

over 20 years

and i find that many people run into

difficulties reading classic

philosophical texts

sometimes it's the way things are said

or how the text is structured

but the concepts themselves are not

always that complicated and that's where

i come in

to help students and lifelong learners

i've been producing longer lecture

videos and posting them to youtube

many viewers say they find them useful

what you're currently watching is part

of a new series of shorter videos

each of them focused on one core concept

from an important philosophical text

i hope you find it useful as well

chapter three of pier addo's book

philosophy as a way of life

is entitled spiritual exercises and this

is a

concept that is absolutely central to

adobe's work both in this book

and in the larger corpus and so he it's

it's worth

sketching out what does he actually mean

by spiritual exercises why is he using

that term and what is its connection to

philosophy and he begins that chapter

by you know giving you an example of a

spiritual exercise and talking about

that

and then he says spiritual exercises the

expression

is a bit disconcerting for the

contemporary reader

and he gives a few reasons for this he

wants to explain

why he's using this term in the first

place it's no longer quite fashionable

to use the word

spiritual but it's nevertheless

necessary to use this term

because none of the other adjectives we

could use

covers all the aspects of the reality we

want to

describe we should point out that that

spiritual in in french and in english

there's a you could say wider range of

meaning in french than there is

in english where it's a bit more

restricted in part because esprit

means not just spirit but also

mind right so there's there's a a more

cognitive sense involved here and ado

explores this and he says

you know we could try psychic moral

ethical intellectual

of thought of the soul none of these are

actually going to work

as well as we'd like he says in these

exercises it is

thought which is which as it were takes

itself as its own subject matter and

seeks to

modify itself so you know we could talk

about thought exercises but the word

thought does not indicate clearly enough

that imagination and sensibility play a

very important role in these exercises

for the same reason we cannot be

satisfied with intellectual exercises

although the intellect such intellectual

factors

as definition division ratio

nation reading investigation and

rhetorical amplification play a large

role in them

so you know we've got there sort of like

the cognitive intellectual

side that works but there's more going

on

what if we switch gears and we talk

about them as being

ethical exercises he says well this is

tempting because the

exercises in question contribute in a

powerful way to the therapeutics of the

passions

and have to do with the conduct of life

but

they also lead to a transformation of

our vision of the world and a

metamorphosis

of our personality so spiritual is apt

to make us understand that these

exercises are the result

not merely of thought but the

individual's entire psychism

and here's another point that he says

the word spiritual reveals the true

dimensions of these exercises

by means of them the individual raises

himself up to the life of objective

spirit and here he's got a capital s so

you can think of it in sort of a

hegelian

sense he says that is to say he replaces

himself

within the perspective of the whole

and then he considers one other issue

the reader might say that that's fine

we'll accept the expression spiritual

exercises

but are we talking about ignatius of

loyola's uh exercise spiritualia

spiritual exercises what relationship is

there between ignatian meditations the

founder you know the jesuits

and this program of you know spiritual

exercises in other places

and hadou says listen ignatius's

exercises are nothing but a christian

version

of a greco-roman tradition and you know

this this idea and terminology

are attested in early latin christianity

well before ignatius of loyola

they correspond to the greek christian

term escasis

in turn escasis which must be understood

not as asceticism but as the practice of

spiritual exercises

already existed in the philosophical

tradition

of antiquity so the goal for him

is to go back to ancient philosophy

particularly that of the hellenistic

and roman time although he does also

consider you know plato and

and aristotle as well and

show what was actually going on there

and show what's what's available for us

in the present so we just because

ignatius of loyola

you know used that term doesn't mean

that we're we're going back to him

as a matter of fact ignatius you could

say is successful precisely because he's

re-interpreting things within a

christian framework that other people

are doing

and that is escasis you can tolerate

asceticism if you want but you have to

understand that in the classical

meaning of discipline and

engaging in practices to change one's

self

so if we go on and we look

in some of the sections particularly

section 1

and section 4 we get a lot more fleshing

out of this

he tells us that in ancient philosophy

philosophy was not just teaching an

abstract theory

or just the exegesis of text but rather

this is a term you'll see used a lot the

art of living

a concrete attitude and determinative

lifestyle which engages the whole of

existence so this

actually sounds rather existential

doesn't it if you know about existential

philosophy

and ado is perfectly willing to say yes

indeed 19th and 20th century

existentialist philosophy is doing at

that time what they were doing back in

ancient philosophy it might also sound

to you like american pragmatism

or the transcendentalist it might also

sound to you

like you know a certain reading of what

rene descartes is doing

in his meditations which he said you

know don't breeze through and don't just

read in part

but i actually carry these out as

intellectual

and spiritual meditation so there's a

lot involved in this art of living and

adogo zanani says

that this is uh not just on the

cognitive level

but on that of the self and of being

right so there's he talks about

reversals

he talks about conversion he talks about

re orientation

and this is a very significant part of

philosophy carried out through spiritual

exercises they are supposed to

not just you know make us feel the same

thing as we all already do

or you know function as a index of

progress

they're supposed to change how we how we

see things

how we feel things how we behave how we

are and so there's a progress that he

talks about being made here and it is a

cognitive process

learning something right it's a cr he

says it's a progress which causes

us to be more fully and

makes us better so it's not

merely intellectual or cognitive but it

also has to do

with what kind of being

we enjoy and whether it's better or

worse

so there are moral or ethical and there

are

metaphysical or anthropological

aspects to this from the very start

that's what a lot of ancient philosophy

was engaged in

hadou argues quite quite persuasively

and so that's a key issue there later on

in the

fourth section there's a a great

discussion

this is the section where he's talking

about reading and

writing and all that sort of stuff

before he actually goes into that

um he tells us that there is a

profound unity to ancient philosophies

as ways of life even though the

exercises that they advocate seem to

vary

quite widely so beneath this diversity

there's a profound unity

he says both in the means employed and

the ends pursuit so

what are the means employed well that's

part of what he's talking about through

this entire

chapter spiritual exercises and

here he tells us that among those

or you could say overarching with those

are techniques of

persuasion dialectical and rhetorical

techniques of persuasion

attempts at mastering inner dialogue

that's one way that

ado reads what's going on with all of

these sort of

mental exercises and you know tell

yourself this

in this sort of situation and think

about you know what could be the case

and

and all of that is mastering one's own

inner dialogue what we nowadays call

self-talk right

and then mental concentration this

consists partly

in attentiveness but it consists in

other things

as well these are not just you know you

could say spiritual practices these are

things that are running through

how we use spiritual practices and why

are we doing it

so some people might do spiritual

practices

just because they run across a text

they're like oh man i'm

i'm really bored i need to do something

let me try out these spiritual practices

there's actually if i remember right uh

jd salinger has somebody doing the jesus

prayer

originally just to do it right and

that's that's an example of a christian

spiritual

practice he talks about in one of his

stories

um but the ends pursued in ancient

philosophy are not so trivial as killing

time

or hanging out with cool people

and talking about stoicism or anything

like that it's to change

yourself self-realization he talks about

an

improvement he also talks about

self-formation or

pidea to teach us how to live

right so that's a a key thing you do

spiritual exercises not just for the

sake of doing them

or to get up on the leaderboards or to

level up or anything like that

you do it because it's going to change

your your life you're it's going to

change you

in the process and this brings us to

another point that

is kind of means and ends at the same

time he talks about living in conformity

with human nature not human prejudices

and social conventions

so this is also part of that that

transformation

we move away from just taking our cues

from our culture

or our gut feelings or something like

that and we learn to say

i'm i'm screwed up man i i need to fix

myself there's some things i need to get

straight about

and we have to have some sort of

conception of what a genuinely

good or realized or full human nature

would be because looking around

at the damaged beings that we we see

they're not it right uh another key

aspect that that a doe

says runs throughout there is a

realization that much of our unhappiness

stems from what he's calling here the

enslavement to the passions

or we could say the affects um he says

in other words people are unhappy

because they desire things they may not

be able to obtain

since they're alien exterior and

superfluous to them it follows

that happiness consists in independence

freedom and autonomy

the return to the essential that which

is truly ourselves right

and another thing that he says here that

i think is really quite interesting

and is bound to lead to some

misunderstandings with careless readers

or hearers is that every one of these

uh philosophical schools and approaches

presumes or as he says believed in the

freedom

of the will now that's that's a term

that

a lot of people use in in rather

equivocal ways

does it mean that you can like you know

in any situation

choose exactly what you want and make it

happen no but

that's not what most philosophers have

meant by that anyway

what does ado mean here he says that

freedom of the will in this sense means

that

we can modify improve

and realize ourselves we have that

possibility we can apply ourselves

parts of ourselves to ourselves to

to change things for ourselves so that

is uh

you know freedom of the will in some

some sense and then he also talks about

the

another key aspect and this again ties

in with means and perhaps with ends

we are not the sage if we're

philosophers we are not at the final

step right as a matter of fact there may

be in fact

no no sage out there it may be a pure

ideal

so he says the philosopher lives in an

intermediate state he is not a sage but

he is not a

non-sage either he's torn

between the non-philosophical and the

philosophical life between the domain of

the habitual

every day and the domain of

consciousness

and lucidity to the same extent that the

philosophical life

is equivalent to the practice of

spiritual exercises

it is a tearing away from everyday life

it is a conversion

a transformation of one's vision

lifestyle and

behavior but it's always something that

is in

process and there can not just be

progress

but also backsliding or dry periods or

whatever

we want to say but all of this ties in

with

why spiritual exercises are so

important for philosophy conceived of

as a way of living not just

as an academic discipline does this

apply to all philosophy

ado is perfectly willing to say no as a

matter of fact

a lot of what we call philosophy these

days or have called it for centuries

isn't this but we do see in ancient

philosophy

ancient western philosophy but we can

also talk about you know wisdom

traditions in

other places as well definitely does fit

into this and

and has a number of important aspects

centering around spiritual practices to

bring this to a close you might say

for ancient philosophy no spiritual

practices

put into effect then no real philosophy

as the art of living

you