The goal of life is to live in agreement with nature.
— Zeno of Citium
The idea of “living according to nature” is at the core of Stoic thought and practice. Living in accordance with nature, as advocated by the Stoics, is not just about accepting the natural order of things. It is about actively striving to understand and align ourselves with it. They believed that by understanding the natural laws that govern the universe, we could lead a life that is in harmony with nature.
One of the key tenets of Stoic philosophy is that we should strive to align our own will with the will of the universe, or nature. If we follow the concept of “oikeiôsis,” which means “identification” or “appropriation”. This refers to the process of identifying with the natural order of things and understanding our place in the world. By understanding our place in the world, we can align our actions and thoughts with the natural order of things.
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