The Cosmopolis: Concord and Harmony in Ancient Philosophy and Modern Science

The first part of this talk will explore the concept of concord or harmony (harmonia) in ancient philosophy, and how it was ultimately believed to arise among human beings. The Stoics argued that all people share a spark of rationality (logos), making us brothers and sisters and citizens of a universal cosmopolis or world-city—literally, “the city of the cosmos.” Because of this innate connection between human beings, they maintained that ethical behavior toward others is a natural human inclination.
However, the idea of the cosmopolis was not exclusive to the Stoics. This presentation will examine its key components—what is necessary to create a cosmopolis in the first place—and how the concept evolved over time.
The second part of the talk will explore ideas of harmony in modern science, particularly in the evolution of the biosphere. These scientific discoveries reveal how concord and harmony manifest in nature, not only among living organisms but also in their relationship with the Earth’s atmosphere.

*Live streaming begins at 11:00 am (PDT). Click here to view the program. Our speaker will join us in Concord Hall, not in-person but via Zoom. He will take questions from the live audience in Concord Hall. A recording of the talk will be available after the program for future viewing at the same link.
If the link does not work, copy the following and paste it into your browser: https://www.youtube.com/@iwcinsantabarbara/streams