This article will focus on the vastness of the universe and our place within it. Understanding the relation between our personal and communal worlds within the universe can bring us to beneficial conclusions.
In ancient Greek philosophy, the universe was understood as a vast organism. They believed every single event, from the biggest ones to the smallest, is connected. The great whole of events was known as a macro-cosmos, while the human world and individual parts were called a micro-cosmos.
The macro-cosmos is reflected in the micro-cosmos, meaning that events on the greater scale resonate within our smaller world. The second quality of the universe is its eternal nature. The universe was not created, nor can it be destroyed in an absolute sense. This eternal quality was demonstrated by the latin phrase ex nihilo nihil fit, which means “nothing comes from nothing”.
The third quality of the universe is constant change. The universe is in never-ending motion. Living organisms die and new ones take their place. Something new can’t begin to exist if something else hasn’t previously decomposed into smaller parts. Therefore, the cycle of nature and the universe is a process of recycling.
“Consider that before long you will be nobody and nowhere, nor will any of the things exist that you now see, nor any of those who are now living. For all things are formed by nature to change and be turned and to perish in order that other things in continuous succession may exist.”
Marcus Aurelius
Connection and Estrangement
Stoics saw the universe and its vastness as the work of logos (reason). All matter was considered naturally inert; logos was the active force that put matter into motion, resulting in both creation and destruction.
Our connection to the universe is intimate, because it is made of individual parts that include us. Stoics deduced that the universe must be mindful, because our own nature is the same. Furthermore, we can find regularity and orderliness in nature, which further proves that the universe must be logical.
“Whether the universe is a concourse of atoms, or nature is a system, let this first be established: that I am a part of the whole that is governed by nature; next, that I stand in some intimate connection with other kindred parts.”
Marcus Aurelius
As a result of this thinking, Greek philosophers never felt truly alone or estranged from the rest of the universe. The same can’t be said for us living in the modern day. These days, most of us consider the universe to be a cold and unwelcoming place. Rather than looking at our involvement in these macro- and micro-cosmoses, we find ourselves fearful of the monstrous size of the universe. This feeling is caused by the estranged impression of “not belonging” anywhere. However, we are much more connected than many of us realise, as the Stoic Hierocles noted:
“Hence nature, as not being ignorant of the purpose for which she generated us, produced each of us accompanied, after a certain manner, by an auxiliary. No one, therefore, is alone, nor does he derive his origin from an oak or a rock, but from parents, and in conjunction with brothers, and kindred, and other familiars.”
Hierocles
We are not randomly placed into this world; however, it would also be wrong to assume that we are intentionally placed here. Essentially, our place in this world is the product of matter and the active force of universal law or the mind. As Hierocles explained, there is no randomness in the universe and we are not alone.
Meditating on Our Place
This meditation is perhaps one of the easiest; all you need is a quiet place outdoors. If you are a morning type, I would recommend you to do this meditation at sunrise. On the other hand, if you are more of a nocturnal type, try to practice this somewhere you can see the stars shining brightly.
When you decide the right time and place, sit down and enjoy the silence and the view. Try to imagine how distant the horizon is and how vast space is. You can also reflect on time and its never-ending journey. Use this time to reflect on big questions. Look within yourself and take note of who is asking those questions; the answer is one person and one mind in front of everything. By doing this, you will perhaps feel the touch of the divine mind that Stoics believed in.
With the help of Stoic philosophy, you will realize that we are never truly alone, no matter how dark it gets. I will leave you with a quote from Zeno, the founder of Stoicism, to help you better understand the logical nature of our universe and our place in it:
“If melodiously piping flutes sprang from the olive, would you doubt that a knowledge of flute-playing resided in the olive? And what if plane trees bore harps which gave forth rhythmical sounds? Clearly you would think in the same way that the art of music was possessed by plane trees. Why, then, seeing that the universe gives birth to beings that are animate and wise, should it not be considered animate and wise itself?”
Zeno of Citium
