The Stoic Concept of Sympatheia

Of great significance in stoism is the concept of Sympatheia which refers to the interconnectedness of all things in the universe. A relevant quote from Marcus Aurelius follows:

“meditate often on the interconnectedness and mutual interdependence of all things in the universe. For in a sense, all things are mutually woven together and therefore have an affinity for each other-for one thing follows after another according to their tension of movement, their sympathetic stirrings, and the unity of all substance”

In keeping with this advice our discussion will be an opportunity to exchange ideas and increase our understanding of the implications of sympatheia in stoic philosophy.
This will be a small group discussion where we will reflect on the following:

1. What is sympatheia?
2. How does this concept affect one’s perspective e.g. of events, actions, problems, judgements etc.?
3. How does sympatheia relate to moral choices or ethics?
4. How do the core stoic principles relate to sympatheia?
5. How does stoic thinking around sympatheia compare to modern ideas or culture?
6. How does this concept compare or relate to other ancient philosophies?
7. How can we practice stoic sympatheia?

We appreciate everyone’s contributions in our group discussions so be prepared to share ideas and learn from each other. Whether you are new to stoism or familiar with it’s principles you are most welcome to come along.