The Great Books of the Western Canon, organized by Mortimer J. Adler in the Syntopicon, span 102 enduring ideas—ranging from Truth, Beauty, and Justice to Democracy, Love, and God. These categories trace the intellectual tradition of the West, connecting philosophy, literature, history, science, and theology. Together, they map the recurring questions and principles shaping human thought across centuries.
The Enduring Nexus: Family, Custom, and the Architecture of the State This article delves into the profound and often understated relationship between family structures, the evolution of social custom and convention, and their collective impact on the formation and function of the State. Drawing on insights from the Great Books...
The Unseen Language: Decoding Sign and Symbol in Religious Ritual In the intricate tapestry of human experience, few threads are as resilient and pervasive as those woven by religion. At its heart lies a profound engagement with the ineffable, an attempt to grasp and communicate what often transcends ordinary language....
The Cradle of Citizenship: The Enduring Role of Family in Civic Education The foundational bedrock of any thriving polis, or indeed, any functional society, is not merely its legal framework or its economic prowess, but the quality of its citizenry. Before the state, before the schoolhouse, before the public square,...
Aristocracy and the Concept of Honor: A Classical Perspective Summary: The concept of Aristocracy, understood in its classical sense as rule by the "best" or most virtuous, is inextricably linked to Honor. This article explores how ancient thinkers, particularly those found in the Great Books of the Western...
