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 Enigma: Unpacking the Distinction Between Being and Essence At the heart of Metaphysics, that grand inquiry into the fundamental nature of reality, lies a distinction both subtle and profound: the difference between being and essence. Simply put, being refers to the sheer fact of existence – that something is....
Unpacking the Art: The Enduring Definition of Rhetoric The term "rhetoric" often conjures images of eloquent speeches or clever arguments, but its true Definition runs far deeper than mere persuasive trickery. At its core, Rhetoric is the art of effective communication, a sophisticated practice of using Language to...
The Intricate Dance: Disentangling Quality from Quantity in Philosophical Thought Summary: The distinction between quality and quantity is fundamental to understanding reality, shaping our approach to everything from scientific inquiry to aesthetic judgment. While quantity refers to the measurable, objective, and numerical aspects of existence, quality delves into the intrinsic,...
The Definition of a Just War: Navigating the Ethical Labyrinth of Conflict A Quest for Justice Amidst the Chaos of War The very notion of a "just war" often strikes the modern ear as an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. How can the devastation, loss, and inherent violence...
