Macrocosme

Macrocosme, or macrocosm, is a term used to describe the larger whole of a system, typically the universe or cosmos, in contrast to its smaller parts, the microcosm. The concept is used in philosophy, religion, and esoteric traditions to express a supposed isomorphism between the order of the cosmos and the order found within humans, communities, or other limited systems.

Etymology and scope: macrocosme comes from Greek makros meaning large and kosmos meaning world or order, and has been carried into Latin and various modern languages. In many historical contexts, the term exists alongside microcosme or microcosm, emphasizing a mirrored structure between the vast and the intimate.

Historical usage: In ancient and medieval thought, especially within Hermeticism, alchemy, and Neoplatonism, the macrocosm was the organized cosmos whose laws were believed to be reflected in the microcosm of human beings. The idea is often encapsulated by the maxim “as above, so below,” which expresses the belief in correspondences between celestial and earthly orders and between the outer world and inner nature.

Modern usage: Today, macrocosme is frequently employed as a metaphor in sociology, anthropology, and systems theory to describe large-scale structures and processes—the universe, global systems, or society as a whole—distinct from micro-level dynamics. While not a scientific term, it remains a useful shorthand for discussing relationships between the large-scale order of the cosmos and the smaller, connected parts within it.