Philosophy as a way of life, spiritual exercises, and palliative care

Abstract

This paper proposes that resources from philosophy as a way of life (PWL), in particular the prescription of targeted 'spiritual exercises' (Hadot) can be used in palliative counselling, addressing Alexandrova's critique that philosophy as 'big picture' theories alone are insufficient. Part I shows how the disciplines of philosophy and medicine for a long time intersected, in particular in competing prescriptive notions of 'regimen' or 'way of life' (diaitês) in the ancient world, in which philosophy was considered widely as PWL. Part II applies PWL work on the ancient philosophical spiritual exercises to contemporary clinical settings. We show how six ancient spiritual exercises respond to patients' needs as persons, whose quality of life is importantly shaped by their beliefs and sense-making, as they face profound existential or spiritual challenges, as well as forms of physical disability and diminished capabilities which they may never have previously countenanced.

Keywords: ancient medicine; palliative counselling; philosophy as a way of life; regimen; spiritual exercises.