The Great Chain of Being

Adolf Goebbels
Published on Jan 27, 2023
It is crucial to understand the idea of a Great Chain of Being, a hierarchical conception of life, when engaging with Renaissance thought. It lingers beyond the period, though largely as a beautiful myth, thanks to the incursion of the new Copernican cosmology.

This lecture will primarily illustrate the Great Chain of Being as it appears in cosmology. Nonetheless, there are numerous correspondences to it and its notion of hierarchy in the thought of the period. I will note three in particular:
1) A 'natural' hierarchy between the sun (sol) and the planets.
2) A social hierarchy between a king and his subjects.
3) A moral hierarchy within the faculties of man, the reason and the appetites.

It is imperative to understand that these distinctions are emphasizing not just discrete 'objects', but a hierarchy that contains within it an analogy of the hierarchy understood to reside between the Creator and his creatures. Man, as God's viceregent on earth, is to act in accordance with such a hierarchy in its manifold ways.

â¤ï¸ If you find my channel helpful, become a channel member: www.youtube.com/c/DrScottMasson

To support my channel and assist me in providing better content, please go here:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=FZN9nCjKxWQNUnF_jsASfpjiVyRpj1H_mdGvxmYj9wIO-ZgrxM5vR1V-nTy3kKygP1gh10&fromUL=true&country.x=CA&locale.x=en_US

Add to

Please Sign In or Create Account to use this feature!

Flag Video

Please Sign In or Create Account to use this feature!

Rate video

Please Sign In or Create Account to use this feature!

Rate video

Please Sign In or Create Account to use this feature!

DISCLAIMER

The content presented in this stream and/or video may be satirical in nature for entertainment purposes. It may contain realistic scenarios that may include themes of racism, anti-semitism, anti-LGBT sentiment and even elements such as death threats, all purely in the context of parody. In addition, this content may depict or refer to acts of violence in a satirical manner. Shock factor is a common and deliberate element used in these displays to emphasise the satirical message. By continuing to view this content, you acknowledge that you understand the satirical nature of this content, including the depiction of violence and the use of shock factor, and agree that you will not use or interpret this content outside of its intended context. Please remember that humour and satire are complex; they are not intended to belittle or demean, but to engage and challenge social norms through exaggeration. If you have any concerns about content, please feel free to engage in constructive dialogue or report issues to GTV staff.