The Way of Life

The final course in this third year, Way of Life, brings the previous courses together in a view of philosophy as a way of life.

In ancient times, philosophy was not seen as a merely academic pursuit but as a way of living. The French philosopher Pierre Hadot, speaking of philosophy in the ancient world said: “During this period, philosophy was a way of life … Philosophy was a mode of existing-in-the-world, which had to be practiced at each instant, and the goal of which was to transform the whole of the individual’s life.”