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 Detailed Structure of the Great Chain of Being

The Great Chain of Being was intricately structured, with each level containing its own hierarchy. This detailed organization reflected the Elizabethan understanding of the universe's complexity and order.

1. God: At the pinnacle of the chain

2. Angelic Beings: Divided into nine orders

   • Seraphim
   • Cherubim
   • Thrones (Ophanim)
   • Dominions
   • Virtues
   • Powers
   • Principalities
   • Archangels
   • Angels

3. Humanity: Positioned between the spiritual and material realms

4. Animals: Further subdivided into categories

   • Quadrupeds (e.g., Orangutan, Monkey)
   • Flying creatures (e.g., Flying squirrel, Bat)
   • Birds (e.g., Ostrich, Water birds, Amphibious birds, Flying birds)
   • Fish (including crawling fish and eels)
   • Snakes and reptiles
   • Mollusks (e.g., Snails, Mussels)
   • Worms (e.g., Tube worms, Ring worms)
   • Insects

5. Plants: Various types of flora

6. Minerals: Including metals, salts, and other inorganic substances

Example: The classification of animals shows the intricate understanding of nature, with creatures like bats and flying squirrels bridging the gap between quadrupeds and birds.

This detailed structure had significant implications for Elizabethan society:

• Social order was believed to mirror this divine hierarchy
• Each person's place in society was considered predetermined and fixed
• Lower classes were expected to submit to upper classes, while upper classes were responsible for the welfare of those below them

Highlight: The concept that "You are all that you are born with" reinforced the idea of a fixed social order, discouraging social mobility.

Definition: The "Wheel of Fortune" in Shakespeare's works often represented the potential for upheaval in this fixed order, showing the consequences of disrupting the natural hierarchy.