Final answer:
The Great Chain of Being is a concept that arranges beings in ascending order from lesser perfections to greater perfections. It was influential in medieval and early modern thought.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Great Chain of Being is a concept detailing a hierarchical structure of all matter and life, with beings arranged in ascending order from lesser perfections to greater perfections. This idea was widely influential in medieval and early modern thought, particularly in Christian theology. The concept is portrayed symbolically as a chain or ladder, with God at the top and various levels or steps representing different levels of beings.