¿Qué significa transformarnos?

Pierre Hadot reminds us that for ancient philosophers, philosophy, more than an articulated philosophical discourse, is the philosophical way of life. Understood this way, philosophy is not only an intellectual process, but a day-to-day activity in which the philosopher strives to live according to philosophical principles. To do this, according to Hadot, the philosopher conducts a series of spiritual exercises aimed at the transformation of the self. What does such a transformation mean? We will define the Hadotian notion of transformation as a transcendent movement in which there is an overcoming of individuality in a principle of universality. This movement has two aspects. On the one hand, it is an ascent of the individual towards an intellective and rational universal, of a Platonic nature. On the other, it is a Socratic type of dialogue, in which the individual overcomes their personal opinions, their ego, in a sincere encounter with the interlocutor and with themselves.