chain of being (4TH CENTURY BC – 18TH CENTURY).
Also called the great chain of being and scala natura.
Based on ideas of Plato (c.427-c.347 BC) and Aristotle (384-322 BC), but popularized in biology in the writings of German philosopher Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716), French naturalist Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1720-1788), and Swiss philosopher Charles Bonnet (1720-1793).
This is the influential concept that all of nature – from non-living matter to sophisticated organisms to spiritual beings – forms an unbroken physical and metaphysical series.
The theory’s biological significance developed in the 18th century, when species were arranged in a graded series or hierarchy.
Certain species, such as the green hydra, were thought to be crucial links in the series. The notion that particular metals, animals or classes of humans outrank others is no longer accepted as part of mainstream science.
Also see: ORTHOGENESIS, speciesism
Source:
A Lovejoy, The Great Chain of Being: A Study of the History of an Idea (Cambridge, Mass., 1936)
Table of Contents
- 1 Videos
- 2 Related Products
- 2.1 The Great Chain of Being: A Study of the History of an Idea
- 2.2 Centaurs and Amazons: Women and the Pre-History of the Great Chain of Being (Women And Culture Series)
- 2.3 The Great Chain of Being
- 2.4 Jacob's Ladder and the Tree of Life: Concepts of Hierarchy and the Great Chain of Being (American University Studies)
- 2.5 Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
- 2.6 The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare
- 2.7 BrainChains: Your thinking brain explained in simple terms. Full of practical tools, tips and tricks to improve your efficiency, creativity and health. How to cope better with ICT, being always connected, multitasking, email, social media, lack of sleep and stress
- 2.8 Primitivism and Related Ideas in Antiquity
- 2.9 Break Every Chain: A police officer's battle with alcoholism, depression, and devastating loss; and the true story of how God changed his life forever
- 2.10 Chain of Gold (1) (The Last Hours)
Videos
The Great Chain of Being: A Study of the History of an Idea
- Philosophy, theory
- Lovejoy, Arthur O. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 382 Pages - 01/31/1976 (Publication Date) - Harvard University Press (Publisher)
Centaurs and Amazons: Women and the Pre-History of the Great Chain of Being (Women And Culture Series)
- duBois, Page (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 176 Pages - 07/01/1991 (Publication Date) - University of Michigan Press (Publisher)
The Great Chain of Being
- Hardcover Book
- Lovejoy Arthur O. (Author)
- 10/28/1961 (Publication Date) - Harvard University Press (Publisher)
Jacob's Ladder and the Tree of Life: Concepts of Hierarchy and the Great Chain of Being (American University Studies)
- Hardcover Book
- English (Publication Language)
- 434 Pages - 10/28/1987 (Publication Date) - Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers (Publisher)
Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
- PLATA
- Kiyosaki, Robert T. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 336 Pages - 04/11/2017 (Publication Date) - Plata Publishing (Publisher)
The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare
- Hardcover Book
- Brose, Christian (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 320 Pages - 04/21/2020 (Publication Date) - Hachette Books (Publisher)
Break Every Chain: A police officer's battle with alcoholism, depression, and devastating loss; and the true story of how God changed his life forever
- Hickory, Jonathan E (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 208 Pages - 10/16/2018 (Publication Date) - Covenant Books (Publisher)
Chain of Gold (1) (The Last Hours)
- Hardcover Book
- Clare, Cassandra (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 624 Pages - 03/03/2020 (Publication Date) - Margaret K. McElderry Books (Publisher)
Last update 2020-06-17. Price and product availability may change.