The Great Chain of Being: Origins and Structure

The Great Chain of Being, known in Latin as "Scala Naturae" and in German as "Stufenleiter der Wesen/der Natur", was a fundamental concept in natural philosophy during the Elizabethan era. This hierarchical structure of the universe originated from the works of ancient Greek philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato, Plotinus, and Proclus.

The Chain of Being was divided into two main realms:

1. The Realm of Being: Encompassing God and spiritual entities
2. The Realm of Becoming: Including all material beings subject to change and death

The hierarchy, from top to bottom, consisted of:

1. God
2. Angels
3. Humans
4. Animals
5. Plants
6. Minerals
7. Non-Being

Vocabulary: Actuality and Potentiality - In this concept, higher beings possessed more "actuality" (realized potential), while lower beings had more "potentiality" (unrealized potential).

This structure reflected the belief that the higher up the chain a being was, the more attributes it possessed, including all those below it. Spiritual essence increased towards the top, while material substance increased towards the bottom.

Highlight: God and Angels, being pure spirits, were considered to have no material bodies. Humans, positioned between the spiritual and material realms, possessed both spirit and matter, making them unique in their ability to change and die.

The Great Chain of Being: A Fundamental Concept in Elizabethan Worldview

The Great Chain of Being, also known as Scala naturae Aristoteles or the Chain of Being Shakespeare, was a pivotal philosophical and religious concept during the Elizabethan Age. This hierarchical structure of the universe, derived from ancient Greek philosophers, profoundly influenced literature, society, and worldview.

Key points:

• Originated from Aristotle, Plato, Plotinus, and Proclus
• Divided the universe into realms of Being and Becoming
• Structured all creation from God at the top to non-being at the bottom
• Influenced social order and Shakespeare's works, particularly Macbeth

Highlight: The concept dictated that everything in the world had its fixed place, and attempting to move up or down the chain could lead to disastrous consequences.