Don't Forget to Live - (The France Chicago Collection) by Pierre Hadot (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In Don't Forget to Live, the final book penned before his death in 2010, renowned French philosopher Pierre Hadot focuses our attention on Goethe and the long tradition of spiritual exercises. As Hadot explains, the term "spiritual exercise" has nothing to do with religion as we might assume. Instead, spiritual exercises are acts of the intellect, imagination, or will that are characterized by their purpose. Thanks to these exercises, a person strives to transform how they see the world, the self, and the relationship between the two. The exercises do not work to inform, but to form. Hadot begins his remarkable study of Goethe with the spiritual exercise of concentrating on the present moment. This exercise was dear to Goethe and allows us to experience each moment intensely without being distracted by the weight of the past or the mirage of the future. Hadot then explores another exercise, the view from above, in which we actively take a distance from things so as to help us see them in perspective. He then turns our attention to Goethe's poem "Urworte" in which the focus is on hope, a figure who represents a fundamental attitude we should cultivate. Through Hadot's masterful treatment of these three exercises we clearly grasp Goethe's deep love for life despite its pains and fears, and this deep love serves as a powerful reminder for us to live as well"--

Book Synopsis

The esteemed French philosopher Pierre Hadot's final work, now available in English.
With a foreword by Arnold I. Davidson and Daniele Lorenzini.

In his final book, renowned philosopher Pierre Hadot explores Goethe's relationship with ancient spiritual exercises--transformative acts of intellect, imagination, or will. Goethe sought both an intense experience of the present moment as well as a kind of cosmic consciousness, both of which are rooted in ancient philosophical practices. These practices shaped Goethe's audacious contrast to the traditional maxim memento mori (Don't forget that you will die) with the aim of transforming our ordinary consciousness. Ultimately, Hadot reveals how Goethe cultivated a deep love for life that brings to the forefront a new maxim: Don't forget to live.

Review Quotes

"With its remarkable erudition, skillful integration and explication of numerous specific quotations, and a style that in spite of its scholarliness is clear and accessible, Hadot's methodology of careful reading as a lived practice . . . not only recommend[s] but also instantiate[s] an exuberant yet disciplined practice of spending time with key passages extracted from celebrated works of fiction and philosophy."-- "The European Legacy"

"There are few figures in Western literature whose legacies are as bound up with their work as Goethe, and Hadot's powerful interpretation is undoubtedly an important milestone in that legacy's history. Even apart from it many other virtues, that reason alone makes this volume a necessary addition to the libraries of Goethe scholars."-- "Journal of Religion"

"Pointing to similarities to the ancient philosophers Goethe knew intimately, Hadot observes that Goethe owes a debt to them but surpasses them in his emphasis on remembering to live a joyfully fulfilling life. Beautifully translated."--E. G. Wickersham "Choice"

"A very beautiful book that celebrates action, the duty to serve, and joy."-- "Valeurs Actuelles, on the French edition"

"No one is more qualified to describe this spiritual line of descent than Pierre Hadot"-- "Le Figaro, on the French edition"

"Renowned for reviving the classical idea of philosophy as an art of living, Pierre Hadot combines his expertise in Greco-Roman thought with an extensive study of Goethe to produce a fascinating book, rich in both erudition and relevance for the conduct of life--reinterpreting, with compelling nuance and philosophical sophistication, the deeper, more mindful meaning of the Horatian maxim carpe diem. What you learn from this book can change your life."--Richard Shusterman, Florida Atlantic University

"This deeply personal work, by one of the greatest of French classical philosophers, featuring one of his major inspirations, the great German author and philosopher Goethe, excellently translated by Michael Chase, might just change your life. It is the culmination of Hadot's long-term concern with 'philosophy as a way of life, ' and constitutes a significant expansion and deepening of this theme."--John Dillon, Trinity College Dublin

"To read Pierre Hadot sparks enormous joy."-- "Charlie Hebdo, on the French edition"

About the Author

Pierre Hadot (1922-2010) was professor of the history of Hellenistic and Roman thought at the Collège de France. He was the author of many books, including Plotinus, or The Simplicity of Vision. Michael Chase is a senior researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Centre Jean Pépin and adjunct professor of Greek and Roman studies at the University of Victoria. Arnold I. Davidson is Distinguished Professor of Humanities at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as well as the Robert O. Anderson Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago. Daniele Lorenzini is associate professor of philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania.