My Stoic Thoughts: Day 4 of Stoic Week 2019

Stoic Week 2019

Thursday, October 10th, 2019

Theme:  Community:  Relationships with Other People and Society

Morning Reflection:

Affection for others is part of our nature; beginning in the family we are born into and expressed to others as we age.  This affections can be directed toward ourselves and flows outward to others so that we view each person we encounter as part of our family.  We first learn to love family and then love others as family.

Midday Reflection:  

Caring for others is an instinct, not unlike our instinct for self-reservation.  It is expressed in two ways. The first as lasting relationships with those we share bonds in specific contexts (family, lovers, friends, co-workers, etc.) and secondly in regarding any human as our relative due to similarities in our nature (rational and sociable).  Both can occur simultaneously and are not in conflict with one another. This leads us to treat others as we would family and family also as autonomous beings.

If we turn this consideration inward, in caring for ourselves, we will be kind to ourselves the same way we are kind to others.  We will use gentle words, will be forgiving, go easy on ourselves, and be more understanding. In this way, the Golden Rule of treating others as ourselves is reversed in treating ourselves like we would treat others.

Evening Reflections:

We will find ourselves in two different communities; those in which we choose (e.g. friends, lovers, groups) and those by accident (e.g. family, humanity).  However, we are to treat members in both groups equally since all are found within the human family. Communities benefit us just as much as we benefit the communities we find ourselves in.  This is so due to our rational and sociable nature. Both communities of accident and choice benefit us in some way and give us the chance to lead a happy life and practice virtue, which benefits all.

(This is a summary of my thoughts inspired by prompts during Stoic Week and do not fully encompass everything on Stoic community.  I highly encourage you to learn more, leave comments, and add to this conversation!)