Ethical Fragments

The book explores the insights of Hierocles, a 2nd century Greek Stoic philosopher, particularly focusing on his work "Elements of Ethics." A significant fragment discovered in 1901 reveals his thoughts on self-perception, asserting that all animals, including birds, reptiles, and mammals, possess a continuous awareness of themselves from birth. This foundational idea highlights self-perception as a fundamental faculty in the animal kingdom, offering a unique perspective on ethics and consciousness in Stoic philosophy.