Microcosm

Western philosophical term. A compound of Greek μικρο (micro), which means "small", and κόσμος (kósmos), which means "order" as well as "world" or "ordered world."

In the Renaissance, the universe was seen as a macrocosm (the whole) and human beings as a microcosm (a part that mirrors the whole); thus, man was part of the universe, but he was also a whole in himself, a microcosm that mirrored the macrocosm. Man and the universe were thought to be constructed according to the same harmonic proportions.

All of the characteristics of the world can be found on the human body, and the characters of human beings can also be predicted from watching the world. The stars in the sky not only influence every little world - people's lives, including birth, death, destiny and all daily sorts of incident, and his hobbies, interests, temperament, personality; they also affect the country's rise and fall, dynastic chronology, the outcome of a war, economic prosperity and decline. The correspondence between macrocosm and microcosm explains why many people thought that the planets could influence their lives. On the other hand, hierarchies and order were very important in Renaissance culture because if a single human being transgressed against the rules, this might have consequences on a much larger scale - planets leaving their orbits and worse. Due to the close relationship between microcosm and macrocosm, it was widely believed that cosmic knowledge and influence might be achieved through contemplation of the powers and tendencies men find in their own imaginations.

Sources

• http://www.encyclopedia.com/article-1G2-3446801221/macrocosm-and-microcosm.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrocosm_and_microcosm