Th Cosmopolis-Ancient Philosophy & Modern Science
Best Bet
In-Person and Online
Lecture/Talk/Discussion/Panel/Q&A
Science
Concord House World Culture Institute
**Events may have been canceled or postponed. Please contact the venue to confirm the event.
Date & Time
Sat, Jun 21 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Address (map)
Concord Hall, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara
Venue (website)
Concord House World Culture Institute
The Cosmopolis: Concord and Harmony in Ancient Philosophy and Modern Science
Saturday, June 21, 2025
11:00 am – 1:00 am (PDT)
A free event – open to all
Livestream* and In Person at Concord Hall, 1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, California
Presenter: David Fideler
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.
David Fideler holds a PhD in philosophy and the history of science. An author of several books and many published articles, his book on the Stoic philosopher Seneca has been translated into more than 15 languages. He also edits the Living Ideas Journal. Originally from the United States, he now lives in Europe. His website: https://www.davidfideler.com
*Live streaming begins at 11:00 am (PDT). 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
