The Great Chain of Being by Arthur Lovejoy

"The Great Chain of Being" is an intellectual history that traces the philosophical idea of the "Great Chain of Being" from the ancient Greeks through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Enlightenment, and into the 19th century. The concept posits a hierarchical structure of all matter and life, with God at the top, descending through angels, humans, animals, plants, and minerals. The book explores how this concept has influenced Western thought, particularly in relation to the natural world, social order, and God's place in the universe.

The 5610th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 69

Since this book was first published in 1936, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 69.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.