Definition

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.

1364 posts

Defining Beauty in Abstract Art and Beauty

by Henry Montgomery in Beauty

Defining Beauty in Abstract Art The quest to define beauty has occupied philosophers for millennia, a timeless pursuit that becomes particularly intriguing when confronted with the enigmatic world of abstract art. Unlike representational art, which often mirrors the discernible beauty of the natural world, abstract art challenges our conventional notions,...

The Use of Logic in Defining the Soul and Logic

by Daniel Sanderson in Logic

The Use of Logic in Defining the Soul The soul. Few concepts have haunted humanity's intellectual landscape with such persistent intrigue and profound mystery. What is it? Does it exist? And if so, how can we possibly define something so seemingly intangible? For millennia, philosophers have grappled with...

The Philosophical Problem of Quantity and Philosophy

by Henry Montgomery in Philosophy

The Elusive Nature of Number: Unpacking the Philosophical Problem of Quantity Summary: The philosophical problem of quantity delves far beyond mere counting. It is a fundamental inquiry into the nature of quantity itself – its existence, its relationship to being, and how we define and perceive it. From ancient Greek inquiries...

The Distinction Between Art and Science and Art

by Chloe Fitzgerald in Art

The Distinctive Paths to Understanding: Art and Science The human quest for meaning and comprehension manifests in myriad forms, none more profound or seemingly divergent than art and science. While both endeavors enrich our lives and expand our knowledge, they approach the world through fundamentally different lenses, offering unique insights...

The Definition of the Term 'Experience' and Definition

by Chloe Fitzgerald in Definition

Unpacking 'Experience': A Philosophical Odyssey Through the Ages What is experience? It's a word we casually toss around daily, yet its philosophical definition is anything but simple. From the raw data of our sense organs to the profound insights that shape our understanding of the world,...

The Difference Between Monarchy and Tyranny and Monarchy

by Chloe Fitzgerald in Monarchy

The Subtle Divide: Understanding the Difference Between Monarchy and Tyranny At first glance, the terms Monarchy and Tyranny might seem to describe similar forms of Government – rule by a single individual. However, as the profound thinkers within the Great Books of the Western World have meticulously shown, the Definition that...

The Logical Structure of Definition and Logic

by Daniel Sanderson in Logic

The Logical Structure of Definition: A Blueprint for Clear Thought At the heart of all rigorous philosophical inquiry, and indeed, any coherent communication, lies the often-underestimated power of definition. A well-constructed definition is not merely a statement of what something is, but a precise articulation of its essence, providing the...

The Philosophical Definition of Man and Man

by Daniel Sanderson in Man

The Philosophical Definition of Man: A Journey Through Self-Understanding The quest to understand "Man" is perhaps the oldest and most profound endeavor in philosophy. From ancient Greece to the Enlightenment and beyond, thinkers have grappled with the fundamental question: What is Man? This isn't merely a...

The Difference Between Quality and Relation and Quality

by Daniel Sanderson in Quality

The Intricate Dance of Being: Unpacking Quality and Relation in Philosophy In the grand tapestry of philosophical inquiry, few distinctions are as fundamental yet frequently conflated as those between Quality and Relation. These are not mere semantic quibbles but essential categories through which we apprehend, describe, and make sense of...

Logic and the Concept of Same and Other and Logic

by Benjamin Richmond in Logic

Logic and the Concept of Same and Other Understanding the fundamental concepts of "same" and "other" is not merely an academic exercise; it is the very bedrock upon which all rational thought and communication are built. Logic, as the systematic study of valid inference and demonstration,...

Defining the One and the Many and One and Many

by Henry Montgomery in One and Many

Defining the One and the Many: A Core Metaphysical Inquiry At the heart of philosophical inquiry lies a profound and persistent question: how do we reconcile the singular unity we perceive in the world with the overwhelming multiplicity of its individual parts? This age-old conundrum, known as the problem of...

The Distinction Between Art and Beauty and Art

by Daniel Sanderson in Art

The Unveiling: Disentangling Art from Beauty Often conflated and used interchangeably in everyday discourse, art and beauty are, in fact, distinct philosophical concepts, each with its own profound definition and criteria for quality. While they frequently intertwine, with much art aspiring to beauty and beauty inspiring art, understanding their fundamental...

The Role of Mathematics in Defining Quantity and Mathematics

by Benjamin Richmond in Mathematics

The Unseen Architecture: How Mathematics Defines Quantity From the earliest human efforts to count sheep or divide spoils, the concept of quantity has been fundamental to our understanding of the world. Yet, the precise definition of quantity, its very essence, is not merely observed but profoundly shaped by the abstract...

The Nature of The Distinction Between Being and Essence

by Benjamin Richmond in Being

The Enduring Riddle: Distinguishing Between Being and Essence The bedrock of metaphysics is often found in the most fundamental questions we can pose about reality. Among these, few are as profound, or as persistently debated, as the distinction between Being and Essence. At its heart, this philosophical endeavor seeks to...

The Definition of Rhetoric and Definition

by Henry Montgomery in Definition

The Enduring Art: Unpacking the Definition of Rhetoric Rhetoric, often misconstrued as mere embellishment or deceptive speech, is in its truest sense the profound art of persuasion. Rooted in antiquity and meticulously explored by the great minds of Western thought, it is the systematic study and application of language to...

The Distinction Between Quality and Quantity and Quality

by Daniel Fletcher in Quality

The Immeasurable Divide: Unpacking the Distinction Between Quality and Quantity A Fundamental Bifurcation of Being The fabric of reality, as perceived and conceptualized by human thought, is woven from countless threads. Among the most fundamental distinctions we draw are those between quality and quantity. This isn't merely an...

The Definition of a Just War and Definition

by Daniel Fletcher in Definition

The Definition of a Just War: A Philosophical Inquiry The concept of a "Just War" stands as one of philosophy's most enduring and ethically charged inquiries. It grapples with the profound tension between the inherent destructiveness of conflict and humanity's persistent yearning for justice...

The Same and Other in Identity and Same and Other

by Emily Fletcher in Same and Other

The Enduring Enigma of Identity: Unpacking "The Same and Other" The concepts of "Same" and "Other" form the bedrock of our understanding of identity, a philosophical puzzle that has captivated thinkers since antiquity. Far from being simple distinctions, these terms illuminate the complex ways...

Defining Beauty in Abstract Art and Beauty

by Henry Montgomery in Beauty

Defining Beauty in Abstract Art: A Henry Montgomery Perspective The Elusive Quest for Aesthetic Truth Summary: The essence of Beauty, a concept pondered by philosophers for millennia, finds itself in a compelling new light when confronted with the enigmatic world of abstract Art. While classical thought often anchored Beauty in...

The Logic of Quality and Definition and Logic

by Emily Fletcher in Logic

The Logic of Quality and Definition: Unpacking the Essence of Understanding A Foundation for Clarity in Thought In the vast landscape of philosophical inquiry, few pursuits are as fundamental and enduring as the quest for clear definition and a precise understanding of quality. This article explores how logic serves as...

The Distinction Between Art and Utility (Labor) and Distinction

by Daniel Sanderson in Distinction

The Profound Divide: Unpacking the Distinction Between Art and Utility (Labor) This article delves into the fundamental distinction between art and utility (often synonymous with labor), exploring their unique definitions, purposes, and values within human experience. We will uncover how philosophers, from antiquity to modernity, have grappled with separating creation...

The Logic of Definition and Essence and Logic

by Henry Montgomery in Logic

The Logic of Definition and Essence: Unpacking the Fabric of Understanding Summary: The pursuit of definition is not merely an exercise in semantics; it is a fundamental act of Logic, an attempt to grasp the Being of things and articulate their very Essence. From the ancient Greeks to modern analytic...

The Distinction Between Good and Evil and Distinction

by Emily Fletcher in Distinction

Unraveling the Core: The Enduring Distinction Between Good and Evil The concepts of good and evil stand as fundamental pillars in human thought, shaping our ethics, laws, and personal conduct across millennia. This article delves into the profound philosophical distinction between these two opposing forces, exploring how various traditions, from...

The Definition of Sign and Symbol and Definition

by Daniel Sanderson in Definition

Unpacking the Fabric of Thought: The Definition of Sign and Symbol How do we communicate? How do we make sense of the world around us, and more importantly, how do we convey the intricate landscapes of our inner minds to others? At the very heart of this fundamental human endeavor...

The Distinction Between Virtue and Vice and Distinction

by Daniel Sanderson in Distinction

The Unveiling of Character: Understanding the Distinction Between Virtue and Vice The distinction between virtue and vice lies at the very heart of ethics, defining the pathways we traverse in the pursuit of a meaningful life. In essence, virtues are those character traits and habits that align us with what...

The Definition of Courage and Definition

by Benjamin Richmond in Definition

Beyond Brashness: Unpacking the Philosophical Definition of Courage Summary: Courage, at its core, is far more than simply the absence of fear or a reckless disregard for danger. Philosophically, it is a complex virtue, a deliberate choice made in the face of significant emotion – most notably fear – guided by reason...

The Logic of Universal and Particular and Logic

by Henry Montgomery in Logic

Here is the article content, crafted in the style of Henry Montgomery for planksip.org: The Bedrock of Thought: Deconstructing the Logic of Universal and Particular The vast tapestry of human understanding, from the profound pronouncements of philosophy to the daily decisions we make, rests upon certain fundamental distinctions. Among...

The Distinction Between Matter and Quantity and Matter

by Daniel Fletcher in Matter

The Distinction Between Matter and Quantity: A Philosophical Inquiry The universe, in its bewildering complexity, often compels us to seek fundamental principles that govern its existence. Among the most crucial distinctions in this quest, stretching back to the dawn of Western thought, is that between matter and quantity. At its...

The Definition of Life and Death and Definition

by Chloe Fitzgerald in Definition

The Shifting Sands of Existence: Defining Life and Death The concepts of life and death are perhaps the most fundamental and universally experienced phenomena, yet their precise definition remains one of philosophy's most enduring and challenging questions. This article explores the intricate dance between biological realities, scientific understanding,...

The Definition of Happiness and Definition

by Henry Montgomery in Definition

Unraveling the Enigma: The Philosophical Pursuit of Happiness The quest for happiness is perhaps the most universal human endeavor, yet its definition remains one of philosophy's most enduring and complex challenges. Is happiness a fleeting sensation, a deep state of contentment, or the ultimate goal of a well-lived...

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