French Literature Reviews - 2026
Sylvain Roux, Ancient Philosophy as a Spiritual Exercise?
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas
Review published in Acta Fabula (October 2025, vol. 26, no. 9): “Was Ancient Philosophy a Quest for Knowledge or a Way of Life? A Discussion of Pierre Hadot's Conception by Sylvain Roux” by Rodolphe Le Penru.
A fresh perspective on ancient philosophy—and, more broadly, on philosophy itself—has progressively gained ground since the second half of the twentieth century, following the extensive scholarship of Pierre Hadot. This view has enjoyed enduring success among both specialists and a wider audience interested in questions concerning the meaning of philosophical activity. According to this paradigm, philosophy has been understood since Socrates as a way of life rather than a purely theoretical discipline aimed at producing knowledge. In this sense, its primary purpose was practical: to provide individuals with the means to attain happiness. Above all, it relied on exercises of a spiritual nature, the aim of which was both to prepare for this philosophical life through rigorous, ongoing practice and to sustain it. Such exercises were not merely a component of philosophy; rather, they were synonymous with it, constituting the entirety of the philosophical enterprise.
This view has attained the status of a true paradigm, serving as a model for anyone seeking to understand ancient philosophy. Yet it has rarely been subjected to rigorous critical analysis or deep reflection regarding its underlying presuppositions. This book accordingly examines the foundations of this perspective and points out its limitations, thereby reopening the debate on the true meaning of ancient philosophy.
Sylvain Roux is a professor of ancient philosophy at the University of Poitiers. His research focuses on the history of Platonism, with a particular emphasis on Plotinus and Neoplatonism.
Pierre Hadot's interpretation of ancient thought revitalized the understanding of philosophy as a practical endeavor centered on spiritual exercises rather than purely theoretical pursuits. This paradigm posits that classical thinkers approached philosophy as a transformative way of life designed to guide individuals toward happiness and inner self-mastery. By emphasizing these lived practices over abstract systems, this framework has shaped contemporary reception among both scholars and general readers seeking the existential relevance of ancient wisdom.
Sylvain Roux examines the foundations of this perspective and points out its limitations, thereby reopening the debate on the true meaning of ancient philosophy. Readers interested in the history of classical thought and the reception of twentieth-century scholarship may find it relevant.