Abstract

The text deals with the understanding of philosophy as spiritual exercises, which accentuate its practical, transformative part. Ancient philosophy consists at the same rate from discourse as from particular practice oriented on transformation of philosophizing subject. This non-reductionist approach is present, e.g. in eastern philosophies as well. As Pierre Hadot points out, in ancient and eastern philosophy a certain set of common features and practices can be described. In more detailed way the text is addressed to the forms of philosophies as spiritual exercises in Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.