Augustine’s Theory of the Great Chain of Being
Augustine of Hippo was one of the most influential Christian philosophers and theologians in the history of Western thought. He was also interested in the nature of being and reality, and how they relate to God. One of his contributions to this field was his theory of the Great Chain of Being, which he derived from Plato’s hierarchy of forms.
The Great Chain of Being is a way of understanding the order and structure of the universe, based on the idea that everything that exists has a degree of perfection and goodness. According to Augustine, the highest and most perfect being is God, who is the source and creator of all other beings. God is pure being, pure goodness, pure wisdom, and pure love. He is also immutable, eternal, and omnipotent.
Below God, there are different levels of beings, each with a lower degree of perfection and goodness than the one above it. The lowest level is the physical world, which consists of material things that are subject to change, decay, and corruption. These things have a minimal degree of being and goodness, but they still reflect some aspects of God’s power and wisdom.
The next level is the realm of living things, which have a higher degree of being and goodness than the physical world. Living things have a soul or a life principle that animates them and gives them some degree of movement, sensation, and growth. Among living things, there are different kinds of souls: plants have a vegetative soul that allows them to grow and reproduce; animals have a sensitive soul that allows them to perceive and respond to their environment; humans have a rational soul that allows them to think and reason.
The highest level of created beings is the realm of angels, which are pure spirits that have no material body. Angels have a higher degree of being and goodness than living things, because they are closer to God and more like him in their nature. Angels have intellects that can grasp eternal truths and wills that can love God perfectly. They also have free will, which means they can choose between good and evil.
According to Augustine, the Great Chain of Being reflects God’s plan and purpose for his creation. Everything that exists has a place and a role in the cosmic order, and everything is good insofar as it fulfills its nature and function. However, evil arises when some beings misuse their free will and deviate from their proper place in the chain. For example, when humans sin, they act against their rational nature and lower themselves to the level of animals or even lower. When angels rebel against God, they act against their spiritual nature and become demons.
Augustine’s theory of the Great Chain of Being has influenced many thinkers throughout history, especially in the medieval period and the Renaissance. It has also been used to justify various social hierarchies, such as feudalism, monarchy, patriarchy, slavery, racism, sexism, etc. However, it has also been challenged by various philosophical movements, such as empiricism, skepticism, humanism, naturalism, etc., that question its validity and relevance.
References:
– Chapter Summary – Oxford University Press. (n.d.). Retrieved October 5th 2023 from https://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199985500/stud/ch8/summary/
– Great Chain of Being | Definition, Origin & Facts | Britannica. (n.d.). Retrieved October 5th 2023 from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Great-Chain-of-Being
– St. Augustine (354–430) – Augustine And Teaching Influence | Education – StateUniversity.com. (n.d.). Retrieved October 5th 2023 from https://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1778/Augustine-St-354-430.html
