Spiritual portrait of Plotinian philosophy: A look from the thought of Pierre Hadot

Abstract

Philosophy in Antiquity was considered as a way of life through the practice of certain spiritual exercises that allowed to reconcile philosophical discourse and philosophical praxis. Pierre Hadot, a scholar of Hellenistic philosophy, seeks to unveil in his research the concept of spiritual exercise, and shows how philosophy was received at this stage; where the philosopher was a director of consciences that generated in his disciples an inner conversion. Hadot exposes in his book, Plotinus or the simplicity of the look, the essential features of the Plotinian philosophy and highlights the aptitude of the philosopher as an active subject that executes the contemplation of himself and his environment, in order to redirect the soul towards the supreme principle or One. Plotinian philosophy is impregnated with philosophical praxis. In Plotinus there is no rupture between man and philosopher; man who is thrown into life and philosopher who remains in inner contemplation. In the figure of Plotinus both are conjugated, and with irresolute mastery he succeeds in capturing the whole process of the soul that transcends and rises towards the ultimate principle, One or Good. Pierre Hadot warns us that, as Plotinus exercises an internal conversion, where his gaze turns towards the One, a metamorphosis of the external gaze occurs in the same proportion; perpetuating a transformation in the work, in the praxis of the individual who is the protagonist of this process.