Intuition and Intellectualism Throughout Ancient Philosophy

exegesis 

There seems to be a clear distinction between what's known as the intellect and the intuition, and, by many well respected philosophers throughout history the intellect, or, at least 'over-intellectualizing', is considered foolish and a direct hindrance to authentic wisdom and psychological development.


References


Our only occupation should be the cure of ourselves; Empty is the discourse of that philosopher by which no human passion is attended to
- Epicurus, Kyriai Doxai (The Principal Doctrines)

Kyriai Doxai (The Principal Doctrines) Philosophy Epicureanism Epicureanism
The theologian who is an intellectualist constructs his system as an architect builds a palace. Empirical and metaphysical concepts are the materials he uses, and he is more concerned with the magnificence and logical symmetry of his ideal edifice than that it should conform to the actual order of things
- St. Sophrony (Sakharov), The Monk of Mount Athos

The Monk of Mount Athos Theology, Intellectualism, Rationalism, Idealism, Reality None None
A truly new and truly original book would be one which made people love old truths
- Vauvenargues, Reflections et maximes

Reflections et maximes Old Truths Exegesis, Originality Exegesis, Originality
Knowing the law does not make one a guide to the blind, it is keeping the spirit and heart of the law that makes one a guide to others.
- Fr. Thomas Hopko, The Orthodox Study Bible

The Orthodox Study Bible None None None
What is finally most benefical to the human being as a human being? Is it to disourse on language, or on being and non-being? Or is it not rather to learn how to live a human life?
- Pierre Hadot, Philosophy as a Way of Life

Philosophy as a Way of Life Philosophy Philosophy Philosophy
It must come to me, not I to it
- Plotinus, The Enneads

The Enneads spirituality Ancient Greek Philosophy, Neoplatonism, Non-doing Ancient Greek Philosophy, Neoplatonism, Non-doing
Do not say more to yourself than the first impressions report. […] Abide always by the first impressions and add nothing of your own from within.
- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Meditations Stoicism Stoicism Stoicism
The purification of the soul, its separation as far as possible from the body and its gathering itself together within itself, is the true practice of philosophy. Hence philosophy consists of a lived concrete exercise and not of a theory or conceptual edifice: The theoretical philosophical discourse is completely different from the lived exercises by which the soul purifies itself of its passions and spiritually separates itself from the body
- Pierre Hadot, Philosophy as a Way of Life

Philosophy as a Way of Life Philosophy Philosophy Philosophy
Come and listen to me read my commentaries...I will explain Chrysippus to you like no one else can, and I'll provide a complete analysis of his entire text...If necessary, I can even add the views of Antipater and Archedemos...So it's for this, is it, that young men are to leave their fatherlands and their own parents: to come and listen to you explain words? Trifling little words?
- Epictetus, Discourses

Discourses Against Reading, Words, Exegesis Stoicism Stoicism
Language develops only upon the death of individuals
- Bryce Parain, L’Invention de la langue

L’Invention de la langue Spiritual Exercises The Ego The Ego
If I admire the exegete because he provides good explanations, and if I can understand and myself interpret the text and if, quite frankly, everything falls to my lot except the fact of making use of these writings in life, would I have become anything other than a grammarain instead of a philosopher?...the fact of just simply reading the writings of Chrysippus or of explaining them on the request of somebody else, and of not making use of them in life, is reprehensible.
- Simplicius, Commentary on Epictetus' Enchiridion

Commentary on Epictetus' Enchiridion Philosophy None None