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[Alexandr Korol]

Uranus links the World Soul to the ancient Greek personification of the sky, while Kosmos signifies order and beauty. By mediating between poetic and pre-Socratic traditions, Plato unites mythological and philosophical elements into a cohesive cosmological vision.”

“Stoicism. The Stoic school of philosophy, founded by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BCE, made a significant contribution to the development of the concept of the World Soul. Stoicism asserts that the universe is a single living being permeated by a divine rational principle known as the logos. This principle orders and animates the cosmos, serving as its soul.
A central element of Stoic cosmology is the belief that the logos acts as the rational structure underlying all existence. This rational principle is identified with God, nature, and the soul of the universe, transforming the cosmos into a living rational organism. The Stoics equated the World Soul with the concept of pneuma — the life-giving force that permeates and sustains all things. Pneuma is a blend of air and fire, elements considered active and capable of imparting life and movement.
The Stoic understanding of the World Soul differs from Plato’s by emphasizing its material nature through pneuma. For the Stoics, the soul of the universe is not an abstract, separate essence but a physical presence that permeates the cosmos and gives it structure and purpose. This physicalist interpretation reflects the Stoic belief that only bodies are capable of action and being acted upon.”