Filosofía como “Arte de Vivir”: De Pierre Hadot a Michel Foucault

Abstract

The term so central in ancient and modern philosophy that refers to Spiritual Exercises, allows Hadot not only to understand the true philosophy of the ancients, but also to indicate the way towards the ideal of true philosophy, which should not be confused with a system or a philosophical discourse. We will discuss the distinction between philosophical discourse and philosophical life, which will help us to understand the philosophy of the ancients as a choice of values and an existential choice. Foucault is criticized by Hadot for replacing the concept of wisdom of the ancients by Foucault’s concept of "self care", and for ignoring the cosmic perspective and Universal Nature.