Editing Microcosm–macrocosm analogy (section)

{{Short description|Analogy between man and cosmos}}
{{Redirect-multi|2|Macrocosm|Macrocosmos|other uses|Macrocosm (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Robert Fludd 1.gif|thumb|upright=1.6|Illustration of the analogy between the human body and a [[Geocentric model|geocentric]] cosmos: the head is analogous to the {{lang|la|[[Empyrean|cœlum empyreum]]}}, closest to the [[divine light]] of God; the chest to the {{lang|la|[[Aether (classical element)|cœlum æthereum]]}}, occupied by the [[classical planets]] (wherein the [[heart]] is analogous to the [[sun]]); the [[abdomen]] to the {{lang|la|[[sublunary sphere|cœlum elementare]]}}; the legs to the dark earthy mass ({{lang|la|molis terreæ}}) which supports this universe.{{efn|From [[Robert Fludd]]'s {{lang|la|Utriusque cosmi maioris scilicet et minoris metaphysica, physica atque technica historia}}, 1617–21}}]]
The '''microcosm–macrocosm analogy''' (or, equivalently, '''macrocosm–microcosm analogy''') refers to a historical view which posited a structural similarity between the [[human being]] (the [[wikt:microcosm|microcosm]], i.e., the ''small order'' or the ''small universe'') and the [[cosmos]] as a whole (the [[wikt:macrocosm|macrocosm]], i.e., the ''great order'' or the ''great universe'').{{efn|The terms microcosm and macrocosm derive from [[ancient Greek]] {{lang|grc|μικρὸς κόσμος}} ({{Transliteration|grc|mikròs kósmos}}) and {{lang|grc|μακρὸς κόσμος}} ({{Transliteration|grc|makròs kósmos}}), which may mean 'small universe' and 'great universe', but whose primary meaning is 'small order' and 'great order', respectively (see [[wikt:κόσμος#Ancient Greek|wiktionary]]; cf. {{harvnb|Allers|1944|loc=pp. 320–321, note 5}}).}} Given this fundamental analogy, truths about the nature of the cosmos as a whole may be inferred from truths about human nature, and vice versa.<ref>On the macrocosm and the microcosm in general, see, e.g., {{harvnb|Conger|1922}}; {{harvnb|Allers|1944}}; {{harvnb|Barkan|1975}}.</ref>

One important corollary of this view is that the cosmos as a whole may be considered to be alive, and thus to have a mind or soul (the [[Anima mundi|world soul]]), a position advanced by [[Plato]] in his ''[[Timaeus (dialogue)|Timaeus]]''.<ref>See {{harvnb|Olerud|1951}}.</ref> Moreover, this cosmic mind or soul was often thought to be divine, most notably by the [[Stoic physics#Soul|Stoics]] and those who were influenced by them, such as the authors of the ''[[Hermetica]]''.<ref>On the Stoics, see {{harvnb|Hahm|1977|loc=63ff.}}; on the ''Hermetica'', see {{harvnb|Festugière|1944–1954|loc=vol. I, pp. 92–94, 125–131}}.</ref> Hence, it was sometimes inferred that the human mind or soul was divine in nature as well.

Apart from this important psychological and noetic (i.e., related to the [[nous|mind]]) application, the analogy was also applied to [[Human body|human physiology]].<ref>See, e.g., {{harvnb|Kranz|1938|pp=130–133}}.</ref> For example, the [[Philosophical cosmology|cosmological]] functions of the [[Classical planet|seven classical planets]] were sometimes taken to be analogous to the physiological functions of human [[Organ (anatomy)|organs]], such as the [[heart]], the [[spleen]], the [[liver]], the [[stomach]], etc.{{efn|See the illustration shown on the right (from [[Robert Fludd]]'s {{lang|la|Utriusque cosmi maioris scilicet et minoris metaphysica, physica atque technica historia}}, 1617–21), which correlates the sun (considered to be a planet in the [[geocentric model]]) with the heart.}}

The view itself is ancient, and may be found in many philosophical systems world-wide, for example in [[ancient Mesopotamia]],<ref>{{harvnb|Svärd|Nokso-Koivisto|2014}}.</ref> in [[ancient Iran]],<ref>{{harvnb|Götze|1923}}; {{harvnb|Duchesne-Guillemin|1956}}.</ref> or in ancient [[Chinese philosophy]].<ref>{{harvnb|Raphals|2015–2020}}.</ref> However, the terms microcosm and macrocosm refer more specifically to the analogy as it was developed in [[ancient Greek philosophy]] and its [[Medieval philosophy|medieval]] and [[Renaissance philosophy|early modern]] descendants.

In contemporary usage, the terms microcosm and macrocosm are also employed to refer to any smaller system that is representative of a larger one, and vice versa.