BASIC FEATURE

GREAT CHAIN

MODERN HIERARCHY

origin

created by God

created in part by evolution

type of organization

non-nested

nested (holarchical)

inclusivity

organisms, humans, higher forms of life, God

matter, life, mind, higher forms of consciousness

relationship between levels

single, essential links

multiple, interdependent processes

similarity of levels

degrees of imperfection

multiple analogical relationships

development

static, closed system

dynamic, evolutionary, open system