Circles of Hierocles

The Circles of Hierocles is a concept from ancient Stoic philosophy that illustrates the Stoic idea of oikeiôsis, or the natural process of recognizing and expanding one's sense of belonging and moral concern to others. This concept is attributed to the Stoic philosopher Hierocles, who lived around the 2nd century CE. Hierocles used the image of concentric circles to explain how individuals should extend their concern and affection from themselves outward to encompass all of humanity.

According to Hierocles, each person starts at the center of a series of concentric circles. The innermost circle represents the self, the most immediate focus of care and concern. Surrounding this central point are successive circles that represent the widening range of relationships and connections we have with others:

The Innermost Circle: This represents the individual themselves, focusing on self-preservation and self-care.

The Second Circle: This encompasses close family members, such as parents, siblings, spouses, and children. These are the people to whom we naturally feel the strongest connection and responsibility after ourselves.

The Third Circle: This circle includes extended family members, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives. While the connection may be less immediate, there is still a natural bond that encourages concern for their well-being.

The Fourth Circle: This circle represents close friends and community members. These are people who, although not related by blood, share a significant relationship with the individual.

The Fifth Circle: This includes fellow citizens or members of one's city or state. The idea is that we should feel a sense of responsibility and care for those who share our social and political environment.

The Sixth Circle: This expands to include people from neighboring cities or regions, recognizing a broader sense of connection and shared humanity.

The Outermost Circle: This final circle represents all of humanity, including strangers and people from distant lands. It is the broadest expression of oikeiôsis, encompassing the recognition that all human beings are part of a single, interconnected community.

Hierocles suggested that we should strive to "draw the circles closer" to the center, meaning that we should work to treat those in the outer circles with the same level of care and concern as those in the inner circles. The ultimate Stoic goal is to recognize the fundamental kinship we share with all human beings, fostering a sense of universal brotherhood and moral responsibility that transcends personal, familial, or national boundaries.