Ethical Fragments

Little is known about 2nd century Greek Stoic philosopher Hierocles. He was famous for his Elements of Ethics, a book which was thought to be lost until part of it was discovered in a papyrus fragment in 1901. The 300 line fragment discusses self-perception, and argues that all birds, reptiles, and mammals from the moment of birth perceive themselves continuously and that self-perception is both the primary and the most basic faculty of animals.

Other surviving excerpts of Hierocles' writings focus on social relationships, marriage, household, and family. The Greek Stoic describes life as a series of concentric circles: the first circle is the human mind, next comes the immediate family, followed by extended family, the local community, neighboring towns, one's country and finally the entire human race.

The discovered papyrus and all other extant fragments have been collected, translated and revised in Ethical Fragments, the most complete single volume of Hierocles' writings available.