Stoicism and the Art of Happiness - Ancient tips for modern challenges: Teach Yourself by Donald Robertson

Author:Donald Robertson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 2013-12-26T23:00:00+00:00

Try it now: The ‘circles’ of Hierocles

The Stoic philosopher Hierocles, a contemporary of Marcus Aurelius, described psychological practices for expanding oikeiôsis, our sense of ‘affinity’ for others. He says our relationships can be represented as a series of concentric circles, radiating out from ourselves and our closest kin (see Figure 5.1). Stoics should attempt to ‘draw the circles somehow towards the centre’, voluntarily reducing psychological distance in their relationships. He even suggests verbal techniques, analogous to calling acquaintances ‘friend’ or calling close friends ‘brother’. Hierocles elsewhere recommends treating our brothers as if they were parts of our own body, like our hands and feet. Zeno’s saying that a friend is ‘another self’, perhaps likewise encourages us to take others deeper into the circle of our affinity and natural affection. Hierocles’ comments about oikeiôsis might therefore be turned into a contemplative exercise:

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