Question

I'm currently reading Pierre Hadot book What is Ancient Philosophy? (Qu'est-ce que la philosophie antique?) and as I reach the third part of the book i can't stop thinking about, how exactly is ancient philosophy, understood by Hadot as a way of life, attached to a discourse, consecrated to the spirit, any different than religion in general? Specially given that many, if not all, of the philosophical schools discussed in the book, such as Platonism, Epicureanism or even Stoicism, do have some regard for assumed truths that rely on faith, specially in when it comes to the models of physics (not understood as a science but in the original greek sense of the word physis) it proposes.. Also, are they really different? Note: I've seen a roughly similar question in the forum before however, as I contextualized my doubts in the body of the post, I expect a deeper answer than those given in the similar question I saw, preferentially given by someone familiar with the book I mentioned.a. Human Behavior & Ethical Dilemmas: We could delve deeper into the complexities of human behavior, ethical dilemmas, and the contradictions that arise in our treatment of animals.

b. Cognitive Dissonance: The concept of cognitive dissonance in relation to the meat paradox could be explored—how conflicting beliefs and actions create discomfort and how people resolve or cope with this dissonance.

c. Philosophical & Moral Perspectives: Exploring different philosophical and moral perspectives regarding human-animal relationships and how they shape our behavior towards animals.

d. Societal Views and Norms: Discussing how societal norms and cultural influences impact our attitudes and actions towards animals, especially in the context of consuming meat.

Answer 1

Ancient philosophy, as viewed by Hadot, emphasizes the pursuit of wisdom as a way of life and personal transformation through rational inquiry, distinguishing it from religion which is more rooted in faith and devotional practices.

Step-by-step explanation:

The distinction between ancient philosophy and religion, particularly as Pierre Hadot discusses in What is Ancient Philosophy?, lies in the former's emphasis on philosophy as a way of life coupled with the pursuit of wisdom and the latter's focus on faith and devotional practices. Ancient philosophy, as represented by figures like the Platonists, viewed philosophy as a means to achieving inner transformation, like the homoiosis theou, or becoming like God, a process that might involve mystical experiences resembling out-of-body experiences, as described by Plato in dialogues such as Phaedo.

While aspects of ancient philosophical schools may resemble religious belief in that they propose certain metaphysical truths, these are generally arrived at through intellectual processes and reasoning rather than revelation or dogmatic faith. Furthermore, ancient philosophy and religions differ in the role philosophy plays in personal and ethical development, as well as the value placed on rational inquiry.