2024-04Thematic Section
Philosophical Dogmas or Questions? A Defense of Philosophical Questioning as a Way of Life

Abstract:

This article compares two different ways of construing philosophy as a way of life (PWL), examining how they influence our understanding of the philosophical tradition and of philosophy today. First, I demonstrate that scholars (including Hadot himself at many points) tend to view PWL as involving a set of philosophical “dogmas” (i.e., doctrines, arguments, or discourse) that are to be implemented in our lives through special practices or spiritual exercises. Next, I argue that PWL should instead be construed as primarily related to questions, particularly philosophical ones. According to this view, the philosophical discourse that transforms one’s life is primarily interrogative, and philosophical questioning itself can be a form of spiritual exercise, capable of altering our way of being and living. Finally, I briefly explore what a history of PWL based on this model might look like.

Keywords:

philosophy as a way of life, Hadot, philosophical doctrines, wisdom, spiritual exercises, philosophical inquiry, history of philosophy

How to cite:

Telo, Hélder. “Philosophical Dogmas or Questions? A Defense of Philosophical Questioning as a Way of Life.” Eidos. A Journal for Philosophy of Culture 8, no. 4 (2024): 95-123. https://doi.org/10.14394/eidos.jpc.2024.0025.

Author:

Hélder Telo
PRAXIS – Center for Philosophy, Politics and Culture, University of Beira Interior
Convento de Sto. António, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4704-9288
helder.telo@ubi.pt

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