What is Ancient Philosophy?

Pierre Hadot. Belknap Press, $36.5 (362pp) ISBN 978-0-674-00733-8

A prominent historian of ancient thought, Pierre Hadot (Philosophy as a Way of Life) revisits the work of Plato, Aristotle, the Hellenistic schools and the philosophical schools of imperial Rome in What Is Ancient Philosophy? He provides an overview of the evolution of ancient thought, focusing particularly on the role of philosophical theory in the lives of the thinkers. Showing how the ancients endeavored to live by their philosophy, Hadot reflects on the rift between theory and practice that came about with the professionalization of philosophy in the Christian era. (May 20)

Featured Nonfiction Reviews

Carl Elliott

Medical research whistleblowers expose unethical studies for their own peace of mind, though doing so often leaves them feeling isolated and betrayed, according to this riveting Continue reading »

Melissa B Jacoby

“The federal Bankruptcy Code intersects with the lives of more people in the United States than virtually any other law does,” asserts UNC law professor Jacoby in her startling Continue reading »

Laura Marris

Marris, a creative writing professor at the University of Buffalo, debuts with a shattering collection that meditates on the sense of loss and isolation caused by humanity’s Continue reading »

Hugh Warwick

In this nuanced report, ecologist Warwick (Linescapes) probes the thorny moral quandaries surrounding attempts to contain animal populations through slaughter. Highlighting the Continue reading »