Cosmic Cosmopolitans: Stoics in Space?
Many astronauts report experiencing the 'overview effect' - a psychological shift in perspective which has parallels with the ancient Stoic practice 'View from Above'.
In the silent expanse of outer space, many astronauts undergo a profound cognitive and emotional transformation known as the "Overview Effect." This shift in perspective has intriguing parallels with an ancient Stoic practice called the "View from Above." While I initially saw this Stoic meditation as a practical anti-anxiety tool, with the additional context of the Overview Effect, we can also see it as a pathway to Stoic Cosmopolitanism.
The Overview Effect: A Cosmic Perspective
The Overview Effect is a term coined by 'Space Philosopher' Frank White in 1987 to describe the cognitive shift many astronauts experience when viewing Earth from space. As astronaut Edgar Mitchell eloquently puts it;
"You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something about it" Edgar Mitchell, 1974)
Far removed from national borders and societal divisions, they see our planet as a fragile, interconnected system. This perspective fosters a sense of unity and responsibility towards Earth and its inhabitants.
The Psychological Impact
The Overview Effect isn't just a fleeting moment of awe; it has lasting psychological impacts. Astronauts often return with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all life. They become, in a sense, ambassadors for the planet, advocating for sustainable practices and global cooperation.
"The Overview Effect is a profound experience that changes your perspective on the world. From space, you see how interconnected we all are and how important it is to work together."
David Saint-Jacques, CSA astronaut.
The View from Above: A Stoic Technique
The Stoic practice of the "View from Above" meditation technique encourages us to mentally elevate ourselves above our immediate surroundings and observe life from a broader perspective. This technique helps us gain emotional distance from our problems, humbling us and making them appear less significant in the grand scheme of things. Below is one way to do it, but the basic technique can be done simply and in the moment.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Find a Quiet Space: Choose a quiet and comfortable place where you won't be disturbed. Sit or lie down in a relaxed position.
Close Your Eyes: Gently close your eyes to help focus your mind.
Deep Breathing: Take a few deep breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. This helps to calm the mind and prepare it for meditation.
Visualise Your Immediate Surroundings: Imagine yourself rising above your current location. See yourself sitting or lying down and slowly zoom out to see the room you're in.
Expand Your Perspective: Gradually expand your viewpoint to include your home, street, and neighbourhood. Picture all the people with their lives and their problems that are equally important to them.
Go Beyond: Continue to zoom out until you can see your city, country, and the entire Earth.
Cosmic Scale: If you wish, you can go even further, visualising Earth within the solar system, the galaxy, and the vast universe.
Reflect: Take a moment to reflect on the interconnectedness of all things and the insignificance of your worries in the grand scheme. Consider all the people at each level of the view, their lives, troubles, victories and deaths. Now consider as well going back and forwards in time. How many lives there have been in the view in the past?
Return: Slowly bring your perspective back to your immediate surroundings and open your eyes.
One benefit of this is stress reduction. When you stop and think about the bigger picture, your problems often look less scary. This can make you feel less stressed. Another benefit is that it can help you control panic. This exercise can be like an anchor when you're in a storm of high stress. It enables you to step back from how you're feeling, offering you a broader view of what's happening. Finally, the view from above can also stop you from overreacting. By looking at things in a balanced way, you're less likely to make impulsive decisions or let your emotions run away. So, it's a valuable tool for managing stress and keeping your emotional reactions in line.
I can remember the dramatic calming effect of the view from above following a car crash. No one was hurt, but it was still a frightening shock - and a significant inconvenience and expense with the car a write-off.
Mentally zooming upwards from the crash site, I got the perspective first of all the lives passing right by in other vehicles, then of business going on as usual in the city, then even wider thinking about the country as a whole - and how many other people were in the same situation right now - and how many were dealing with crashes yesterday, and how many would crash tomorrow. And how many millions were having a worse day?
That perspective helped, almost instantly, reduce my stress and shock. It was calming my fight-or-flight adrenaline. It helped put the crash into perspective, as nothing is out of the ordinary or terrible. It helped me choose how to react - the crash became an everyday fact to be accepted and practically dealt with. If thousands of others were coping with crashes, then I could too.
The Stoic Philosophy Behind the View
Stoic philosopher-king Marcus Aurelius advised,
"You can rid yourself of many useless things among those that disturb you, for they lie entirely in your imagination; and you will then gain for yourself ample space by comprehending the whole universe in your mind, and by contemplating the eternity of time, and observing the rapid change of every part of everything."
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
The "View from Above" is rooted in Stoic philosophy. Stoicism is a philosophy of virtue-based ethics and is a practical guide helping us live better lives. Stoics teach we can make ourselves more resilient and of better character by thinking about things with practical wisdom, having a broader perspective, and understanding what is in our control.
It is one of a few Stoic techniques that overlap with modern ideas in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, such as 'de-catastrophisation’.
Decatastrophising involves challenging and re-evaluating thoughts that predict the worst-case scenario. The aim is to consider more realistic outcomes and develop a balanced perspective. This helps reduce anxiety and improve coping strategies.
Re-evaluating My Shift in perspective.
I have used the "View from Above" for several years, and I've used it as an anti-anxiety technique. However, after encountering the Overview Effect, I realised that this Stoic practice should serve a higher purpose, not just as a tool to pull out in a stressful situation, but as a more regular meditation on Cosmopolitanism.
What is Stoic Cosmopolitanism?
Stoic Cosmopolitanism is the idea that all humans belong to a single community governed by a common reason or "logos." This concept challenges us to extend our moral and ethical responsibilities beyond our immediate family, community, or nation to include all humanity. The literal translation of Cosmopolitan is a citizen of the universe. Stoic Cosmopolitanism teaches us to be "citizens of the world."
Being a Global Citizen
Being a global citizen in the Stoic sense means recognising that we are all part of the same human family, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or religion. It calls for an understanding that our actions have a ripple effect, impacting not just those immediately around us but also communities across the globe. As global citizens, we are urged to act in ways that benefit humanity. This Stoic ideal is a philosophical concept and a call to action. It encourages us to engage in social and environmental responsibilities, to be aware of global issues, and to strive for a more equitable and sustainable world.
The view from above should not just help us get the perspective of how small and insignificant we are in the world - we must also ponder on all the other lives and see how we are all interconnected, yet here for so brief a time.
In a world increasingly divided by nationalism, religious extremism, and ideological conflicts, Cosmopolitanism offers a refreshing perspective. It encourages us to look beyond our narrow self-interests and consider the global community's well-being. This kind of cooperation is needed if we are to have any chance at solving the global problems we face.
"There are no borders or boundaries on our planet except those we create in our minds or through human behaviours."
Frank White
Get ready for launch…
The overview effect's dramatic impact on astronauts validates the ancient philosophical exercise. Still, only a few humans have had the opportunity to travel to space; others may need help to meditate and apply it just in their imagination. However, a few academic studies have now tested and uncovered that virtual reality (VR) technology can simulate the Overview Effect, making this transformative experience accessible to more people. This could even have therapeutic and rehabilitative applications for anti-social behaviour and dealing with trauma.
The technological view from above aid is available to you right now. You can easily access literal views from space through satellite imagery on your phone or computer.
There are many free options - NASA worldview, Satellites.pro or Google Earth - an interactive 3D model of the Earth that can aid us in experiencing the literal "View from Above." As we grapple with increasing nationalism and global challenges that require collective action, perhaps it's time to explore these tools and perspectives. I encourage you to try this exercise using Google Earth or a similar platform, ideally combining it with a guided 'view from above' meditation recording; free ones are available online.
As you zoom out and see the Earth as one unified entity, you might experience your own Overview Effect and realise, as the Stoics did over two thousand years ago, that we are all temporary neighbours in the same cosmic city.
As Carl Sagan puts it in his 'Pale Blue Dot' Speech:
"Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it, everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilisation, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there--on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam."
Carl Sagan
Ahoy,
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Thanks,
Rod