When I help you I also help myself: On being a cosmopolitan-
The ancient Cynic philosophers were called 'cosmopolitans', not because they were into fancy living or traveling, but because they challenged society's norms by living simply and owning nothing. Later, the Stoics developed the idea of cosmopolitanism into a general philosophy that guided their everyday thoughts and actions. They believed that all humans inhabit the same big city and are interconnected and interdependent, like an extended family.
The Stoic philosopher Hierocles talked about circles of concern, where at the centre is you, then your family, friends, fellow citizens, countrymen, and finally humanity at large. He believed that we should aim at contracting the circles, bringing other people closer to us because they are our own kin.
The Stoics thought that we should live according to nature, which means doing our part to use reason to improve society. Whenever we do so, we make things better for us and for others, which means that the modern self/other dichotomy is far too simplistic. In the long run, our individual interests are aligned with the interests of society.
The Stoics were keen defenders of human freedom and believed that the freedom to pursue our individual goals is predicated on the existence of a society of similarly free individuals. They believed that we might be from different places, but in a deeper sense, we are all members of the same global community.Â
