Single Idea 9198

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 6. Hopes for Philosophy]

Full Idea

Personally I firmly believe, perhaps naively, that it is possible for modern man to live, not as a sage (sophos) - most of the ancients did not hold this to be possible - but as a practitioner of the ever-fragile exercise of wisdom.

Gist of Idea

It is no longer possible to be a sage, but we can practice the exercise of wisdom

Source

Pierre Hadot (Philosophy as a way of life [1987], 7)

Book Reference

Hadot,Pierre: 'Philosophy as a Way of Life', ed/tr. Davidson,Arnold I. [Blackwell 1995], p.211


A Reaction

It seems to me quite plausible that the philosophical life might yet become a widespread ideal, even though philosophers seem to still be sheltering from storms two thousand years after Plato gave us that image.