more on this theme     |     more from this thinker     |     more from this text


Single Idea 20813

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / e. Human nature ]

Full Idea

The human being was born for the sake of contemplating and imitating the cosmos.

Gist of Idea

Human purpose is to contemplate and imitate the cosmos

Source

Chrysippus (fragments/reports [c.240 BCE]), quoted by M. Tullius Cicero - On the Nature of the Gods ('De natura deorum') 2.37

Book Ref

'The Stoics Reader', ed/tr. Inwood,B/Gerson,L.P. [Hackett 2008], p.66


A Reaction

[This seems to be an idea of Chrysippus] Remind me how to imitate the cosmos. Presumably this is living according to nature, but that becomes more obscure when express like this.