Philosophy as a Way of Life
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- In this video we investigate, building on the works of Pierre Hadot, how the ancient philosophers conceived philosophy as a way of life.
===================================================
Support us on Patreon: / academyofideas
Recommended Readings:
Philosophy as a Way of Life: Pierre Hadot - amzn.to/1X21g5u (affiliate link)
What is Ancient Philosophy: Pierre Hadot - amzn.to/1WR52xJ (affiliate link)
Visit www.academyofid... for more videos, video transcripts and more!
===================================================
I love philosophy. It helped me learn who I am and, with that information, move toward a life that is more suitable for me. I owe my life to Philosophy.
Philosophy is the basis to critical thinking. Critical thinking for it's sake is what enables someone to regain control and live outside of the groups one was born with.
@@comu157 I agree with you! I find it interesting then, that we are not taught philosophy in public schools.
Lagot ka
Philosophy and psychedelics saved my life. Along with many great friends.
Feed your mind.
who?
I swear, you cover all the right stuff. Keep up the good fight.
I remember Montaigne in his chapter about pedantism where he said something along the lines of: if your philosophical teachings and ideas are not applicable to the real lives of the common people, then it’s pointless philosophy.
In my case philosophy saved me on at least two occasions. I was at the lowest point of my life few years ago and reading Montaigne’s Essays was the only thing that helped me move forward. And now this year I discovered Academy of Ideas whilst feeling lost as I near the age of 25 and you helped me start moving in some direction instead of remaining in this state of feeling lost. You also gave answers to my mental health issues, something I haven’t been able to find a solution or an answer to from anywhere else. Thank you.
A lot of these exercises, especially Marcus Aurelius's call to "dwell" on the imaginations of the stars, are actually forms of escaping from reality into a fantasy land where pains are minimal and wonder maximal.
While I believe in moderation these practices can truly help us gain different perspectives on our lives, which is a healthy thing, we must be careful to not let fantasizing turn into a permanent obsession, for many great men, including Dante, fell into the trap of choosing divine bliss over earthly joys - that is, fantasy over reality.
And the oft-painful lesson of philosophy ought to be what Goethe said, "Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do." In essence, contemplation of life and a desire for higher living are not enough - we must apply the principles we learn successfully into REAL LIFE - we must take ACTION that helps us.
So ultimately, my friends, let us not use philosophy as simply a thinking exercise, let us do with it what Socrates would have hoped for us to do: examine our own lives, build ourselves into creatures who search for reason, stand up for truth, and spread the beauty of a "good life" as best we can.
It seems that you have misunderstood Marcus Aurelius' point entirely. It's not about escaping reality in any way. It's all about recognizing the world for what it is. When he said "dwell in your mind upon the changes of the elements" He means, that you should always be aware and recognize that all things change, evolve, and ultimately die. The whole point of this exercise is to look at the entire world from a high place (like if you were standing above a star) and realize that your worries, insecurities and problems are really nothing in the grand scheme of things. Could you please explain what sort of fantasy do you see in this observation? I think it's the most blunt way you can look at the world. Would you say that this observation is false and just a fantasy?
It's funny that you then mention the quote of Goethe of putting things into action when in fact, Marcus Aurelius and all of the other ancient stoics thought in the exact same way, for them philosophy was all about putting wisdom into practice and not just to think about stuff and then doing nothing.
That's, in fact, the whole point of this video. All of the points you're making at the end are exactly the things that the author of this video said.
I would recommend you to watch it again and to pay closer attention to it. I would also recommend you to watch his video about Marcus Aurelius. I think that you would like what he has to say.
Beautifully put
Marcus Aurelius was never only concerned with philosophical thoughts and not applying the wisdom of these in real life. Infact, Marcus is considered to be one of the greatest emperor of Ancient Roman empire, who ruled his empire with the same wisdom and dexterity with which any competent emperor would have done. Ancient Rome flourished and was at its peak under his rule. Therefore, I believe its wrong to relate fantasies or wishful thinking to Marcus Aurelius.
Yea i dont agree with this about Aurelius either. I agree with your overall point, but not with your interpretation of what Aurelius intended.
Whenever I think I have seen all your videos, there are still more to go back too. Your channel is one of the most inspiring use of digital media. Your channel seems to be an attempt to individuate the person from the crowd and help them reach eudaimonia.
wow..this is unreal and EXACTLY what I needed right now. I went to a very dark place recently with a lot of crises and mostly my fault. A lot of shame guilt and self doubt. I thought to myself "I was thinking in ideals and as a philosopher but how can I do that now within this physical place?" Great job. Thank you SO much for sharing! I really truly needed this.
academyofideas Its so different being and doing philosophy but then to take a step back and see what it is you are exactly doing when you are doing it is a whole other thing
You're welcome! I'm glad you liked it.
As Slim Pickens said in Blazzing Saddles....."DITTO"
@@ashcatchum keep moving forward always
What you do and how you do it is such a huge benefit to anyone who can press play and put down their ego for about 8 minutes and 27 seconds. That is a beautiful thing and i thank you for it. It’s deeply refreshing to see concepts and creeds I try to live by so articulated.
Philosophy has lead me through good times and in bad, but what it has never done, is, abandon me. I have gained much insight into this world and the way I see it, thanks to her glorious nature.
If base your life upon man's opinions you will never be rich, if you base your life upon nature's needs you will never be poor. Nature's needs are few while those of opinions are limitless. Seneca
I’ve been doing the “viewing from above” exercise for years without knowing it. I picture Earth as I gradually drift further away while all of its noise and chaos disappears amidst the void of the cosmos. It’s quite calming actually.
Great presentation like always. thank's for posting.
Please never stop what you're doing, ever it's insane, unrealistic and unbelievable. I'm so happy this exist. You're making such a profound change whether you realize it or not, this content is amazing, the depth is what I enjoy.
Musashi talked about depth within life. This is amazing/surface-level dept with true honestly others hopefully can enjoy, I do. The fact that this is "4 years old" but has less views then most garbage on the internet is unreal. This shows what we have become as humans. This may be 1 out of mabye 8 video's I've seen from #AcademyIdeas on TH-cam. If you want to live a fulfilled and happy life start here. Quit looking outside and try some inner work with love.
So philosophy really is reserved for the special few, who understand the need for wisdom and understanding of the soul. Great video!
Recommended Readings:
Philosophy as a Way of Life: Pierre Hadot - amzn.to/1X21g5u (affiliate link)
What is Ancient Philosophy: Pierre Hadot - amzn.to/1WR52xJ (affiliate link)
Great video as per usual. Clear, concise, and thought provoking. Looking forward to your future videos.
I am currently reading Hadot’s book “qu’est ce que la philosophie antique?” and it’s so good, so this video is a great addition.
Watching this in 2020 and it is cool to see how you have grown your style and presentation over the years. Keep up the good work!
This has to be one of the most important videos for me on TH-cam thank you
I had the very same idea - thinking of death everyday to make life seem more precious - but the experience i made was that I was getting anxious the more I thought about death. I think to make this kind of death concious philosophy work, one must never forget what the actual goal of this philosophy is - happiness and joy of life. If one fails to concentrate on the positive side of a death concious life, I think one is even more likely to become depressed and deprived of every joy than one who isn't concious about his mortality.
Tschoo I agree. Thinking of death should be just a reminder that you're here now, alive, so you can enjoy this very moment and feel free.
Yep
To be mortals needs not depress us:
"Always remember: First, that all things have been of the same kind from everlasting, coming round and round again, and it makes no difference whether one will see the same things for a hundred years, or two hundred years, or for an infinity of time."
"The present moment is equal for all; so what is passing is equal also; the loss therefore turns out to be the merest fragment of time. No one can lose either the past or the future - how could anyone be deprived of what he does not possess?"
"Death: Either dispersal, if we are atoms: or, if we are a unity, extinction or a change of home."
"He who fears death fears either unconsciousness or another sort of consciousness. Now if you will no longer be conscious you will not be conscious either of anything bad. If you are to take on a different consciousness, you will be a different being and life will not cease."
- Marcus Aurelius, in "Meditations"
Ever heard of the stories of the two philosophers, Democritus and Heraclitus, one never stopped laughing and the other never stopped crying, respectively, despite having the same insights on life-that life is meek and fragile, easy to be taken away and that life is meaningless. However, they have very different views on this, Democritus never stopped laughing because he is grateful of all the pleasures in life despite it being so fragile, whilst Heraclitus cried Everyday pondering about the meaninglessness and bleakness of life, unable to understand that these little pleasures should be cherished.
Sure, thinking about death can be helpful with the right mindset, with the wrong one however, it can wreck havoc on your mental health.
Pondering upon various futures so that you are not surprised is similar: if you can control how much you are thinking and stay positive, it helps you... but if you start thinking about every little thing that could go wrong you are going to feel constantly anxious. Yes, you might avoid some potential disasters or not be so affected by an event because you foresaw it, but it can destroy your mental health by making you obsessed with thinking about what could go wrong...
These spiritual exercises are tools which can be useful or damaging, it depends how you use them and I guess it depends on what sort of person you are and what tendencies you have (optimist or pessimist).
glad to see you are still here making awesome videos... Thanks!
Loving this channel...watching snippets daily, weekly, nightly...prep for day...wind down...try to understand WTF is up with humanity. If people would stop hating on each other, take a step back and learn some insights into self and others, more peace, calm and harmonious times.
The View from Above is a mindset I often relate to. We as humans have the habit of making our problems as if the world depends on it. But looking at the scale of the cosmos and that we are merely living on a moat of dust in a vast ocean, our troubles adds up to nothing.
I have been waiting for an upload from this channel... Keep the videos coming.... And great job on the material of all the channel's videos
As a kid philosophy was a joke, but I always saw it as the highest form of thinking.
Luckily I never listemed to the teachers or my friends. I love philosphy and now it has kept me alive.
I’ve always felt that philosophy should be a compulsory subject to be taught in secondary and primary education, so as to give children and teenagers ideas to think about and learn to navigate life without making many mistakes that they may make in the future. However, I am concerned that philosophy as a compulsory subject and not a chosen one will cause others to loose interest in it and may even cause others to view philosophy as useless when they do not understand the contents.
i love the cadence and tone of your voice... Wonderful!
The labyrinth of the heart annoy the tyrants is a beautiful line
Thank you so much for being there. In this cluttered information age and age of distraction its difficult to explore ideas or at times overwhelming. So thank you for being there or say existing.
The similarities between many of these Greco-Roman ideas and those found in Buddhism and other eastern philosophies are interesting. Alexander's empire spread from Greece to India; it's very possible that the two worlds exchanged ideas in ways we have not yet realised.
Its difficult to imagine how different life must be for people who don't philosophise.
Can't help but feel, this video is a "sales pitch" to encourage more people to chose the way of the philosopher. And it is well made. I do like, and do notice "Uncle Sam" in the end. "We need you..."
And i completely agree. The world is sorely lacking free men (And women, of course) to challenge the status quo of the modern day societies.
Well done sir, well done indeed. Great essay.
Great video.
Thanks for posting it, please keep making more.
Great as always.
***** Nice avatar!
This is my favorite channel
Your videos are great and I enjoy them profoundly. Please continue doing what you do.
Amazing as always! Thanks for uploading.
Art and philosophy have been neutralised to a large extent. The artist is now formulated not as an outsider in whom there is a possibility for free and critical thought, but as someone who happily collaborates with businesses and other organisations to come up with art projects. I know this because i have just left art college.
Similarly , the study of English Literature has become the study of history, and constantly relativises what is the artistic experience; because the artistic experience, the indication that there is a pressing truth of being outside capitalistic alienation, is a threat to those who are trying to consolidate the project of capitalistic tyranny.
The artistic experience is counter cultural in its very nature but by teaching you (for instance) Literature in the way they do, they are trying to teach you there is no central artistic experience, only the post modern fiction of a culturally and historically determined social event, the novel, poem, play, etc.
I appreciate your thoughtful comment.
Between foundationalism and coherentism of epistemology instead I choose infinitism. I was searching philosophy of life videos, good job on this video, brought back thoughts of philosophy and educational philosophy, philosophy of science courses I took in the early '80s glad I did.
Some really interesting subject matter covered here; could really use a few more subs.
this is gold
I want a sequel to this video, longer, better, with more examples. A great starting point, nevertheless.
Grateful for the new upload acadamyofideas.
Another superb video! I'm glad that you're back :)
finally some new videos!!
Gratitude for the affirmations.
Just awesome man. Love your videos.
Wonderful video! I recommend watch Rick Roderick, a philosopher who lives philosophy like this video describes.
I love that Seneca quote :)
Beautifully presented.
Did you use the same concluding line as in strength as weakness? - great channel AOI, many thanks
Thanks a lot.
Jose.f Alejo You're welcome!
Thanks.
Great as usual! Thanks!
yew these videos as a series fuckin rock glad theyre back
Thank you for the good work
You really illuminate people.A high deed.Can I please ask,were are those images come from? Thank you
I think science and logic is the way to go.Weve been deceiving ourselves and others with these moral tools and judgements that always serve the powerful. Caring for people is not a higher power priority. It is simply the right thing to do if it's done with integrity and genuine concern.Not as an act of charitable work. No problem had ever been solved that way. If fact more problems are hatched out of already existing problems.
You've come so far "M." And yet, at the sametime, you've always been right on target.
great lecture! thanks!
Something worth looking into, (I view doing a little research worthwhile) what the Greek word Schole means!
What's the difference between "Pre Meditation Of Future Evils" and "Worrying"?
Read on stoicism, you will understand that 1 more
OldRayG here, a Lover of Wisdom and of life itself with a Burning Question: Who writes the script for the narrated content here at The Academy Of Ideas? There seems to be a common feeling to each lesson which transcends the production and presentation. At this moment, this is an offhand question, but it is something which I will learn if possible. Who are you?
This is one of my favorite channels. I eagerly await each new upload and review them all many, many times as my own learning spiral allows me to see more and more of what you teach. I have come to wonder who it is that creates the actual rhetoric, itself. Your channel is brilliant, and I've been enlightened by your efforts. I see what you are doing; you are trying to "bridge man to superman". You've helped to create an environment from which my own Son will become more spiritually evolved than I, Thank you very much.
+ray gravitt The channel is the work of two of us, two brothers to be exact. I'm glad you enjoy the videos, thanks for your comment.
beautiful. i really enjoy your vids
Thanks for your videos.
Nobody opm..u .
Y c x,+8( nv
Philosophy is a lost way of being. People these days read books focused on a particular philosopher of the passed and think that by memorizeing what has been said that they too are a philosopher but that is a misunderstanding because a true philosopher can and will find all the hidden wisdom of this earth without reading a single book if he has to, because when you FIND knowledge that's how you also come to KNOW it and nothings higher than when you have come to know something .
Miya El No ,the Kings are in exile for now. Too dangerous.
Even the ancient philosophers read about theories, practices, etc. Then they try them, make them better maybe and so on.
Thank you again 🔅 ✨
Spoken well,,, thank you!
O,,,
Amazing
Great channel!
beautiful
Slow down your speach my friend!
Be at peace, confident and slow down.
I understood you, yet so much more could be contemplated while listening to this great insight if you just slow down!
I'm yelling these words because your voice is fast continuing as I do so!
Woahh young man! Woah up and settle!
This is not a subject matter to be taken lightly! Hello and geetings to you!!
I would like to know the artist behind painting at 3:05
The Apotheosis of Homer by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres.
Thank you :)
+Markka161 Löysin villin Markan kommenttiosiosta.
Hyvää työtä uskollinen Andduu. :) Laita jotain reittiä sähköpostisi talteen, kuten skypessä, sillä saattaisin tulevaisuudessa lähettää jotakin sitä kautta. Harkitse toki uuden luomista jos on ainoastaan roskaposti täytteisiä sähköposteja.
Question: if you try contemplating all possible evils could that not lead to unending anxiety? Because you can make up every sort of bad thing that could possibly happen.
Very useful!
thanks great work
thanks for great videos, how do you scource all the fantastic artwork that you use??
Thank you for this new video.
I just would like to add that I think that you were speaking a little bit too quickly comparing to your other videos. I felt like it was less smooth and more difficult to follow.
Great video
Posterity is not a thing in itself, nuances never stop in its pragmatism. Many visions sustain what the mind is in man, feelings are a stage for what the man cannot grasp too see, for if one wades in this, the mind will find the power and direction to over power the concepts that seem over bearing, and this leads to posterity too which must be gained over the nuances of self becoming.
What software do you use to make videos? I'm thinking about making my own, and I like the format of your videos.
I use Prezi and Camtasia.
Oh fuck yeah that was lit
I live it everyday.
Socrates declared the unexamined life not worth living !
For a lively and interesting REBUTTAL from another philosopher, read Rousseau's 'Discourse on the Arts & Sciences'
I will say again and again, that, that team, academy of ideas, have done great things for the populations out there. If only...if, by some plan we could get the rest....to throw away their TV sets.
Does the study of philosophy ever lead to answers or simply more questions?
REPLY TO SENECA & the STOA : a life completely free from fear and worry, would be a life without any hope or desire -- and, ultimately, without any value !
If one were to start reading more about philosophy, what books would you recommend as a starting point?
Plato's Dialogues.
I'm not sure I agree with Hadot where he says wisdom enabled a kind of superman 1:37 since the status quo represents a lowering of the state of being, wouldn't living a philisophical life mean more of a returning to normal, instead of an elevation to superman status?
@-GinΠΓ Τάο I see, so the superman was super at the culture game, not able to project themselves beyond that bias. But Senaca at 5:20 seems to nail it where he says (because of the harshness of surprise events possibly) we should project our thoughts ahead of ourselves...he's saying not the image of ourselves but an open mind...not concrete thoughts but allowance of differences in context. It's about the efficacy of knowledge itself, not who presents it.
@-GinΠΓ Τάο Here's my current understanding of why culture goes either wrong or right, FWIW. It follows on from thinking about what you said about that figure 8 with null space at one end.
Symmetry as the perfect object, a sort of pearl (not in our physical world) in the nest of the figure 8, which is like an oyster shell wanting to close. The null space, our universe, is the circle left behind by this wanting, the expansion/contraction one kind of movement, therefor perfect in that it preserves quality, fractal information flow, and only changes quantity. Objects in our world having two kinds of movement, and imperfect.
The power of the perfect moves down in dimensions from left behind circle to slightly curved line segments of movement. These add value by adding imperfect objects and this can be seen in culture, both animal and human.
A bird uses segments to build an object, the nest, in which the bird (an object) sends out another object (an egg) which is the increased value when hatched and the novel value is sent out.
A baseball game is the same. Where culture can go wrong, I think is because humans can extend time/space in their heads and go out of context, by simplifying the world for themselves into a duality. Better to see a trinity of context, efficiency and identity in this world, staying in context allows engagement, plastic allows efficiency at the cost of engagement, identity changes but only as a result of that awareness in each person being close to that perfect object and either increasing or decreasing, not changing in quality. The way a quantum particle is close to describing that perfectness with its spin, but is imperfect as the linear segmented movement, broken symmetry fluctuations, trying to rejoin the circle.
Virtue must be pursued!
So I am both types of philosophers too a degree. thanks
Excellence!
Damn that last part made me realize why school teachers didn’t like me
Where my stoic people at? The best thing to happen to me in 2020 is finding stoicism =)
Remember, lead by behaviour not by lecture!
Good vibrations!
i cant quite get my head round the quote from Seneca at 5:26. seems to directly conflict with the idea of being in the present moment and lessening anxiety. I can imagine 1000 possible terrible futures, how does that help me? I really fail to see the value in this.
Knowing what can happen can make when it actually happens less of a surprise and can be handled rationally and in a calmer state of mind. Some people panic when something happens cuse they never think it can happen in the first place.
@@antoniorivera6984 yea thats a fair point i guess. I suppose one would have to limit the time they dwell on such matters before it becomes destructive
Interesting
Philosophy is the truth of life, religion was born from philosophy , in philosophy you learn about mental illness religon nature all the answers are in philosophy, love from Greece stay safe everyone, read philosophy and you can see the secrets of the world its math
Philosophy is perfect for people who are not religious.
I live with my mother and stay outsid of society for obvious reasons. I cant even believe how a lot of people react to it! The criticism is unreal. No wonder Im an atheist. They cant even fully rationalize their behavior. This is all new to me
does anyone know the name of the painting on the far left at 1:21 ??? thanks!
Daxx McGee he puts the names of all the paintings on his website
"Throughout antiquity, rode hedo" ???? 1:32
You guys got anything on Eastern philosophies?
Not at the moment, we'll most likely be putting up some Eastern philosophy videos this summer.
Academy of Ideas
When's that? Summer here's March till June.
Another thing. Any opinion on the TruthContest?
Sorry for the late reply. Still nothing on the horizon for Eastern philosophy. I do intend to dive into the various ideas and make numerous videos in the future though.
In terms of the Truth Contest I just took a quick glance so I can't provide too in depth an opinion, but any system of thought claiming to espouse the "ultimate truth" is in danger of setting itself up as a dogmatic religion.