Terminology Tuesday: Chain of being
A key element in the worldview of many ancient, medieval and early modern philosophers, who assumed a principle of plenitude in which beings of every possible type must be actualized, from the lowest to the highest. Thus in the medieval world it was common to think of various entities as possessing different degrees of being, from insignificant bare specks of matter through plants and animals and humans and on to angelic beings and God himself, who possesses the highest possible degree of being. The universe is a vast hierarchy of beings, and it is good that all positions in the hierarchy are filled. See also Neo-Platonism.
Evans, C. S. (2002). Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics & Philosophy of Religion (pp. 22–23). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Richard Porter
Richard Porter is apologetics ministry leader at Calvary Church of West Hartford in Connecticut and a Chapter Director with Ratio Christi. Richard has studied apologetics for over a decade. Prior to his conversion, apologetics was a huge part of what God used to reel him in to the faith. From the popular works of Lee Strobel to the more academic defenses of Christianity by William Lane Craig, apologetics has always caught his eye. He has a passion for equipping Christians to defend the faith and hopes to one day be in full-time ministry. He also has aspirations to pursue an academic career of his own if the Lord permits. In his spare time Richard enjoys exploring New Testament studies and analytic philosophy. In addition to his intellectual pursuits, Richard also enjoys kettlebell and martial arts training – particularly Brazilian and Japanese Jiu-Jitsu. He also has two sons that are being trained as young apologists and martial artists.
