The Stoic Concept of Self-Realization
You'll surely stumble upon strange and unfamiliar words like Oikeiôsis when learning about Stoicism. In this article, I'd like to shed some light on what this ancient term means and why it is still relevant for us today.
The term Oikeiôsis is often translated as "orientation," "appropriation," "familiarization," "affiliation," "affinity," or "endearment." It's the perception of something as one's own. All living organisms - humans, animals, as well as plants - inherently own or have Oikeiôsis within.
You can consider it as a process of developing an affinity towards yourself and others. It's the journey toward self-realization and understanding your position in the larger scheme. The crucial thing to realize is that Oikeiôsis isn't self-centered, only understanding to know who you are as a person, but includes your role in the human family and the universe. As social animals with the capacity for reason, it's also about recognizing your social responsibilities. As we grow, we understand that our well-being is interconnected with the well-being of others and society as a whole.
"Oikeiôsis is the process of developing an affinity towards yourself and others."
The two stages of Oikeiôsis
The Stoic theory of Oikeiôsis is divided into two stages.
- Internal.
- External.
Internal Oikeiôsis
The first stage starts with self-love, developing self-preservation, and becoming aware of its own constitution. The Oikeiôsis of plants is more subtle and primitive than it is for animals or humans, but still, they have it within. Building this awareness involves recognizing one's body as "belonging to" oneself and maintaining its natural condition. The organism strives for self-preservation by seeking what nurtures well-being and avoiding harm. Pleasure is a by-product of success in this pursuit - not the ultimate goal. The creature embraces discomfort to nurture and enhance its inherent nature, like a determined toddler taking wobbly steps and persistently falling while learning to walk.
Let's take a look at human infants. Appropriation is why the baby wants his mother's milk. However, as the child grows up, things change. A child still loves himself, but his capacity for reason emerges as a teenager, and his understanding of himself is transformed significantly. Before, the child thought of his body as his constitution (or self), but now he sees himself as his mind (mental faculty for reason) in relation to his body. The child now loves the ability to think and make use of rationality. Our human reason connects us to the cosmic reason, Nature, which guides the universe. So, when an adult is fully matured, they see their true self, their ultimate good, as their fully developed and perfected rational soul. And that's precisely what virtue is.
This stage explains our self-relationship. Let's come to the next step, which explains our connection with others and how we relate to others in society.
External Oikeiôsis
The Stoics observed that parents naturally love and care for their children. This love is driven by the child's close connection and resemblance to the parent. However, since we share reason with (nearly) all human beings, we identify not only with our immediate family but with all members of the human race. They are our fellow members in a broader rational community. The Stoics believed that this social connection explains the natural development of altruism. It's also the foundation of Stoic cosmopolitanism.
How does that help you?
Well, the knowledge about the theory of Oikeiôsis helps cultivate and strive for an excellent human character - arete. That's point one, the internal perspective.
Point two is the external perspective. Oikeiôsis is the connection to other humans and living beings. We all share and own Oikeiôsis, and it pushes us beyond self-interest. It's the groundwork for a sense of unity. Knowing we have something in common and realizing that our individual well-being is linked to the well-being of others can blur the border between "self" and "other." This shift toward a more inclusive perspective can create a profound sense of interconnectedness or 'oneness.'
By remembering Oikeiôsis in our daily lives, we can foster a deep sense of belonging and unity with the whole human race and even the universe. This feeling of oneness can galvanize our commitment to work for the betterment of all, nurturing a more harmonious, compassionate, and just world.
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