The great chain of being : a study of the history of an idea : the William James lectures delivered at Harvard University, 1933

Annotation From later antiquity down to the close of the eighteenth century, most philosophers and men of science and, indeed, most educated men, accepted without question a traditional view of the plan and structure of the world. In this volume, which embodies the William James lectures for 1933, Professor Lovejoy points out the three principles--plenitude, continuity, and graduation--which were combined in this conception; analyzes their origins in the philosophies of Plato, Aristole, and the Neoplatonists; traces the most important of their diverse samifications in subsequent religious thought, in metaphysics, in ethics and asesthics, and in astronomical and biological theories; and copiously illustrates the influence of the conception as a whole, and of the ideas out of which it was compounded, upon the imagination and feelings as expressed in literature This is arguably the seminal work in historical and philosophical analysis of the twentieth century. Originally delivered for the William James lecture series at Harvard University in 1932-33, it remains the cornerstone of the history of ideas. Lovejoy sees philosophy's history as one of confusion of ideas, a prime example of which is the idea of a "great chain of being"--a universe linked in theology, science and values by pre-determined stages in all phases of life. Lovejoy's view is one of dualities in nature and society, with both error and truth as part of the natural order of things. The past reminds us that the ruling modes of thought of our own age, which we may view as clear, coherent and firmly grounded, are unlikely to be seen with such certainty by posterity. The Great Chain of Being is an excursion into the past, with a clear mission--to discourage the assumption that all is known, or that what is known is not subject to modifi cation at a later time. Lovejoy reaffirms the "intrinsic worth of diversity," as a caution against certitude. By this he does not mean toleration of indiff erence, or relativity for its own sake, but an appreciation of mental and physical process of human beings. As Peter Stanlis notes in his introduction: "Faith in the great chain of being was fi nally largely extinguished by the combined infl uences of Romantic idealism, Darwin's theory of evolution, and Einstein's theory of relativity." Few books remain as alive to prospects for the future by reconsidering follies of the past as does Lovejoy's stunning work.

this Is Arguably The Seminal Work In Historical And Philosophical Analysis Of The Twentieth Century. Originally Delivered For The William James Lecture Series At Harvard University In 1932-33, It Remains The Cornerstone Of The History Of Ideas. Lovejoy Sees Philosophy's History As One Of Confusion Of Ideas, A Prime Example Of Which Is The Idea Of A
great Chain Of Being A Universe Linked In Theology, Science And Values By Pre-determined Stages In All Phases Of Life.

lovejoy's View Is One Of Dualities In Nature And Society,
with Both Error And Truth As Part Of The Natural Order Of Things. The Past Reminds Us That The Ruling Modes Of Thought Of Our Own Age, Which We May View As Clear, Coherent And Firmly Grounded, Are Unlikely To Be Seen With Such Certainty By Posterity. The Great Chain Of Being Is An Excursion Into The Past, With A Clear Mission-to Discourage The Assumption That All Is Known, Or That What Is Known Is Not Subject To Modification At A Later Time.

lovejoy Reaffirms The Intrinsic Worth Of Diversity,
as A Caution Against Certitude. By This He Does Not Mean Toleration Of Indifference, Or Relativity For Its Own Sake, But An Appreciation Of Mental And Physical Process Of Human Beings.
as Peter Stanlis Notes In His Introduction: Faith In The Great Chain Of Being Was Finally Largely Extinguished By The Combined Influences Of Romantic Idealism, Darwin's Theory Of Evolution, And Einstein's Theory Of Relativity. Few Books Remain As Alive To Prospects For The Future By Reconsidering Follies Of The Past As Does Lovejoy's Stunning Work

From later antiquity down to the close of the eighteenth century, most philosophers and men of science and, indeed, most educated men, accepted without question a traditional view of the plan and structure of the world.

In this volume, which embodies the William James lectures for 1933, Arthur O. Lovejoy points out the three principles—plenitude, continuity, and graduation—which were combined in this conception; analyzes their origins in the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, and the Neoplatonists; traces the most important of their diverse samifications in subsequent religious thought, in metaphysics, in ethics and aesthetics, and in astronomical and biological theories; and copiously illustrates the influence of the conception as a whole, and of the ideas out of which it was compounded, upon the imagination and feelings as expressed in literature.

From later antiquity down to the close of the eighteenth century, most philosophers and men of science and, indeed, most educated men, accepted without question a traditional view of the plan and structure of the world.In this volume, which embodies the William James lectures for 1933, Arthur O. Lovejoy points out the three principles—plenitude, continuity, and graduation—which were combined in this conception; analyzes their origins in the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, and the Neoplatonists; traces the most important of their diverse samifications in subsequent religious thought, in metaphysics, in ethics and aesthetics, and in astronomical and biological theories; and copiously illustrates the influence of the conception as a whole, and of the ideas out of which it was compounded, upon the imagination and feelings as expressed in literature.

From later antiquity down to the close of the eighteenth century, most philosophers and men of science and, indeed, most educated men, accepted without question a traditional view of the plan and structure of the world. In this volume, which embodies the William James lectures for 1933, Arthur O. Lovejoy points out the three principles - plenitude, continuity, and graduation - which were combined in this conception; analyzes their origins in the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, and the Neoplatonists; traces the most important of their diverse ramifications in subsequent religious thought, in metaphysics, in ethics and aesthetics, and in astronomical and biological theories; and copiously illustrates the influence of the conception as a whole, and of the ideas out of which it was compounded, upon the imagination and feelings as expressed in literature. Cover 1 Contents 6 Introduction to the Transaction Edition 8 Preface 24 I. Introduction: The Study of the History of Ideas 30 II. The Genesis of the Idea in Greek Philosophy 51 III. The Chain of Being and Some Internal Conflicts in Medieval Thought 94 IV. The Principle of Plenitude and the New Cosmography 126 V. Plenitude and Suffi cient Reason in Leibniz and Spinoza 171 VI. The Chain of Being in Eighteenth-Century Thought, and Man’s Place and Rôle in Nature 210 VII. The Principle of Plenitude and Eighteenth-Century Optimism 235 VIII. The Chain of Being and Some Aspects of Eighteenth-Century Biology 254 IX. The Temporalizing of the Chain of Being 269 X. Romanticism and the Principle of Plenitude 315 XI. The Outcome of the History and Its Moral 342 Notes 362 Index 402 From later antiquity to the close of the 18th century, most educated men accepted without question a traditional view of the plan and structure of the world. In this volume, Lovejoy copiously illustrates the influence of this conception, and of the ideas out of which it was compounded, upon the imagination and feelings as expressed in literature. Paper mosaics, silk screen prints, fold-outs, silhouettes, and other types of cards to make yourself