Stoic individualism was complemented by cosmopolitanism rooted in universal Reason.

Evidence

Whereas for Aristotle the sociopolitical milieu of the individual was still the source of ethical valuation, the Stoical interest in the practical actually involved only the individual, and the elevation of the individual to the system’s prescribed ideal became so exclusively the arbiter of Stoical practice that the interrelations of individuals became no more than a means to that ideal, individualistic end. This goal, of course, was defined in content by the idea of a universal Reason that infused all individual beings. Every person was thought to partake in this Reason, and its realization in the individual constituted the Stoical ideal. Transcending all barriers of nationality and social exclusiveness, Reason wove a bond of equality and brotherhood around all human creatures. Thus, the individualism of the Stoics had its complement in cosmopolitanism; the rending of narrower social bonds, which during this period was promoted no less by the political situation than by theoretical contemplation, shifted the center of gravity toward the individual, on the one hand; and on the other, toward that widest circle to which every human belongs simply by virtue of his humanity. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 658

Categorization

• XREF: Stoic cosmopolitanism (individual + widest human circle) is the precise structural template for the flâneur who transcends his local milieu — central to the essay’s Julius reading. — connects to: Renaissance culture paired perfected individuality with transcendence of local milieus. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 661; Christian eternal-soul doctrine unites extreme individualism with universal equality — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 693; Rising individuality necessarily yields belief in mankind’s ideal unity — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 684 (+3 more)

Related

• Rising individuality necessarily yields belief in mankind’s ideal unity (similarity 0.86)
• Individual liberty has become a cosmopolitan value beyond its Western origins (similarity 0.84)
• Christian eternal-soul doctrine unites extreme individualism with universal equality (similarity 0.83)
• Individuality and universal equality historically arise as twin reactions to inequality (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Renaissance culture paired perfected individuality with transcendence of local milieus. #corroborates (0.75) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 661
• Christian eternal-soul doctrine unites extreme individualism with universal equality #corroborates (0.60) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 693
• Hegel concretized universal Reason in the Prussian state just as savants chose Napoleon. #exemplifies (0.60)
• Rising individuality necessarily yields belief in mankind’s ideal unity #expands (0.50) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 684