The art of living : Stoic ideas concerning the nature and function of philosophy
The aim of this thesis is to consider the relationship between philosophy and biography, and the bearing that this relationship has on debates concerning the nature and function of philosophy. There exists a certain tradition that conceives philosophy exclusively in terms of rational discourse and as such explicitly rejects the idea of any substantial relationship between philosophy and the way in which one lives. I shall argue that the claim that philosophy cannot have any impact upon biography is often based upon an implicit conception of philosophy as primarily rational discourse. In contrast to this I shall draw upon Socratic and Stoic philosophical resources in order to reconstruct an alternative conception of philosophy as an art concerned with one's way of life. Central to this conception will be the relationship between philosophical discourse or argument and philosophical training or exercise. I shall argue that the ancient claim that philosophy is primarily expressed in one's behaviour presupposes a conception of philosophy as an art that involves both rational discourse and training or exercise as two equally important components. I shall argue that by adopting this alternative conception of philosophy
Sellars, John
B Philosophy (General)
The art of living : Stoic ideas concerning the nature and function of philosophy. The aim of this thesis is to consider the relationship between philosophy and biography, and the bearing that this relationship has on debates concerning the nature and function of philosophy. There exists a certain tradition that conceives philosophy exclusively in terms of rational discourse and as such explicitly rejects the idea of any substantial relationship between philosophy and the way in which one lives. I shall argue that the claim that philosophy cannot have any impact upon biography is often based upon an implicit conception of philosophy as primarily rational discourse. In contrast to this I shall draw upon Socratic and Stoic philosophical resources in order to reconstruct an alternative conception of philosophy as an art concerned with one's way of life. Central to this conception will be the relationship between philosophical discourse or argument and philosophical training or exercise. I shall argue that the ancient claim that philosophy is primarily expressed in one's behaviour presupposes a conception of philosophy as an art that involves both rational discourse and training or exercise as two equally important components. I shall argue that by adopting this alternative conception of philosophy
art living stoic idea concern_nature function philosophy aim_consider relationship philosophy biography bear relationship debate_concern nature_function philosophy exists certain tradition conceives philosophy exclusively term rational discourse explicitly reject_idea substantial relationship philosophy way live shall_argue claim_philosophy impact_upon biography often base_upon implicit conception philosophy primarily rational discourse contrast shall draw_upon socratic stoic philosophical resource order_reconstruct alternative conception philosophy art concern way_life central conception relationship philosophical_discourse argument philosophical training exercise shall_argue ancient claim_philosophy primarily express behaviour presuppose conception philosophy art involve rational discourse training exercise equally_important component shall_argue adopt alternative conception philosophy