Stoicism
Stoicism holds that reality is governed by a rational, divine principle called the Logos, which pervades and structures all of nature. Everything that happens is determined by fate (providence), and the good life consists in living in accordance with nature and reason, accepting what cannot be changed.
I. Time
| Extent | Finite |
| Ontological Status | Substantival |
| Grain | Continuous |
| Freedom | Deterministic |
| Traversability | Cyclical |
| Dimensionality | One |
| Direction | Uni-directional |
Time is substantival and finite — it is a real, cosmic parameter within which the Logos unfolds its rational plan. Time is deterministic: every event is decreed by fate (heimarmene) and governed by providence. Time is cyclical: the Stoics held that the cosmos undergoes periodic conflagration (ekpyrosis) and reconstitution, repeating its entire history in identical cosmic cycles. Within each cycle, time flows continuously and uni-directionally.
II. Space
| Extent | Finite |
| Ontological Status | Substantival |
| Curvature | Curved |
| Dimensionality | Three |
| Locality | Local |
Space is substantival, finite, and curved — the cosmos is a single, finite, spherical body surrounded by an infinite void. It is local and three-dimensional: all physical interactions occur within the bounded material cosmos. Space is filled with pneuma (divine breath), the active, rational force that structures all of matter from within.
III. Matter
| Extent | Finite |
| Ontological Status | Substantival |
| Conservation | Conserved |
| Dimensionality | Three |
| Locality | Local |
Matter is substantival and finite — it is one of two cosmic principles: passive matter (hyle) and active reason (Logos/pneuma). Matter is conserved: nothing is created or destroyed, only transformed through the interaction of the passive and active principles. All matter is local and corporeally situated within the finite cosmos.
IV. Observer
| Time Instance | Single |
| Space Instance | Single |
| Extent of Knowledge | Immediate |
| Retainment of Knowledge | Total |
| Physicality | Embodied |
| Agency | Both |
| Number | Plural |
V. Energy
Pre-existing — the Logos is itself the active, rational, fiery energy that structures all of reality. Conservation: Conserved — the total energetic constitution of the cosmos is preserved through each cosmic cycle. Usage: Multiple — cyclic conflagration (ekpyrosis) and reconstitution means energy is fully recycled at cosmic timescales.
VI. Information
The logos encodes rational information in the cosmos — the universe is an informationally ordered system governed by reason.