To Know Is To Be – Wisdom in Philosophy as a Way of Life and Its Implications for our Understanding of Knowledge

Philosophy as a way of life (PWL) prioritizes a mode of living over theoretical discourse, practiced through spiritual exercises like attention to the present moment and cosmic consciousness. Within this framework, true knowledge (Sophia) is not propositional but a state of being: to know is to become what is known. This conception of knowledge is contrasted with contemporary critiques of productivity-driven society by Byung-Chul Han and Ailton Krenak, showing its relevance for imagining alternative ways of living.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In my paper, I attempt to show how the Hadotian metaphilosophical perspective of philosophy as a way of life (PWL for short) implies another conception of what true, philosophical knowledge is: a conception that one should understand through Hadot’s reading of what is Sophia for ancient philosophy. To do so, I present my account of PWL according to Hadot as a way of understanding philosophy in which the way of life comes first and the discourse comes second and which is practiced fundamentally through the spiritual exercises of attention to the present moment and cosmic consciousness. Through this exposition, I show that the PWL conception of knowledge is one in which to know is to be that which is known. I then connect this discussion to contemporary philosophical debate and critique of our current society by Byung-Chul Han and Ailton Krenak, pointing out how the PWL conception of knowledge is relevant to that debate and, thus, crucial for the reflection on alternatives to the way we live today, led by demands of productivity and utility.