Microcosm–macrocosm analogy
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| - | # a smaller [[system]] which is [[representative]] of or [[analogous]] to a larger one | + | '''Macrocosm and microcosm''' is an ancient [[Greek philosophy|Greek]] [[Neoplatonism|Neo-Platonic]] schema of seeing the same patterns reproduced in all levels of the [[cosmos]], from the largest scale (macrocosm or universe-level) all the way down to the smallest scale (microcosm or sub-sub-atomic or even metaphysical-level). In the system the mid-point is Man, who summarizes the [[cosmos]]. |
| - | #: ''Though our town is small and provincial, it is a true [[microcosm]] to the country as a whole.'' | + | |
| - | {{GFDL}} | + | The Greeks were philosophically concerned with a rational explanation of everything and saw the repetition of the golden ratio throughout the world and all levels of reality as a step towards this unifying theory. In short, it is the recognition that the same traits appear in entities of many different sizes, from one man to the entire human population. |
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| + | Macrocosm/microcosm is a [[Greek language|Greek]] compound of μακρο- "Macro-" and μικρο- "Micro-", which are [[Greek language|Greek]] respectively for "large" and "small", and the word [[Cosmos|κόσμος ''kósmos'']] which means "order" as well as "world" or "ordered world." | ||
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| + | Today, the concept of microcosm has been dominated by [[sociology]] to mean a small group of individuals whose behavior is typical of a larger social body encompassing it. A microcosm can be seen as a special kind of [[epitome]]. Conversely, a macrocosm is a social body made of smaller compounds. | ||
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| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[Anthropic principle]] | ||
| + | *[[Arcology]] | ||
| + | *[[Emerald Tablet]] | ||
| + | *[[Family as a model for the state]] | ||
| + | *[[Fractal theory]] | ||
| + | *[[Nanoeconomics]] | ||
| + | *[[Rosicrucian#Rose_Cross:_Alchemy_and_Divine_Sciences_of_Healing_.26_of_the_Stars|Rose Cross and Alchemy]] | ||
| + | *[[Surat Shabd Yoga|Surat Shabda Yoga]]{{GFDL}} | ||
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Macrocosm and microcosm is an ancient Greek Neo-Platonic schema of seeing the same patterns reproduced in all levels of the cosmos, from the largest scale (macrocosm or universe-level) all the way down to the smallest scale (microcosm or sub-sub-atomic or even metaphysical-level). In the system the mid-point is Man, who summarizes the cosmos.
The Greeks were philosophically concerned with a rational explanation of everything and saw the repetition of the golden ratio throughout the world and all levels of reality as a step towards this unifying theory. In short, it is the recognition that the same traits appear in entities of many different sizes, from one man to the entire human population.
Macrocosm/microcosm is a Greek compound of μακρο- "Macro-" and μικρο- "Micro-", which are Greek respectively for "large" and "small", and the word κόσμος kósmos which means "order" as well as "world" or "ordered world."
Today, the concept of microcosm has been dominated by sociology to mean a small group of individuals whose behavior is typical of a larger social body encompassing it. A microcosm can be seen as a special kind of epitome. Conversely, a macrocosm is a social body made of smaller compounds.
See also
- Anthropic principle
- Arcology
- Emerald Tablet
- Family as a model for the state
- Fractal theory
- Nanoeconomics
- Rose Cross and Alchemy
- Surat Shabda Yoga
