the great chain of being
All this talk of layers of complexity defined by learning and modeling
sounds a lot like `the great chain of being', as promoted by Leibniz
and Spinoza. I quote Arthur O Lovejoy, The Great Chain of Being
Lecture V:
The essential characteristics of the universe are for him
plenitude, continuity, and linear gradation. The chain consists of
the totality of monads, ranging in the hierarchical sequence from God
to the lowest grade of sentient life, no two alike, but each differing
from those just below and just above it in the scale by the least
possible difference. Since the metaphysics of Leibniz is a form of
idealism, or, more precisely, of pan-psychism, the gradation is
defined primarily in psychological rather than morphological terms; it
is by the levels of consciousness which severally characterize them,
the degrees of adequacy and clarity with which they ``mirror'' or
``represent'' the rest of the universe, that the monads are
differentiated.
so what has happened to these ideas since the 17th century? Schelling
added evolution as the means to climb the chain. Since then the
theory has fallen out of favor, and the whole thing appears to be
regarded as a failure. i have to read more of this book.