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 Indivisible Fabric: How Quality Illuminates Being in Metaphysics Summary: The concepts of Being and Quality are not merely distinct philosophical categories but are inextricably linked, forming the very fabric of our reality and our understanding of it. This article explores their profound relation within metaphysics, arguing that Quality serves...
The Unmoved Mover: God as the First Cause The concept of God as the First Cause stands as a cornerstone in Western philosophical and theological thought, proposing an ultimate origin point for all existence. This article explores the profound implications of an uncaused Cause, a fundamental Principle necessary to explain...
The Unending Riddle: Navigating the Problem of Time and Infinity A Metaphysical Conundrum The nature of Time and Infinity has haunted philosophers for millennia, presenting one of the most profound problems in Metaphysics. At its core, this challenge asks us to reconcile our lived experience of time's relentless...
The Logic of Same and Other in Metaphysics: Unpacking the Fabric of Being Welcome, dear reader, to a journey into the very bedrock of existence. Today, we're delving into concepts so fundamental, so interwoven with our understanding of reality, that they often slip past our conscious notice: the...
The Philosophy of Space: A Journey Beyond the Tangible What is space? It's a question so fundamental, so seemingly obvious, yet its depths have puzzled the greatest minds in Philosophy for millennia. Far from being a mere empty container, Space sits at the very heart of Metaphysics and...
The Enduring Riddle of Being: Unpacking the Metaphysical Status of Universal Forms Summary: The Metaphysical Quest for Shared Reality The question of universal forms is a cornerstone of metaphysics, probing the fundamental nature of reality itself. This article explores the age-old philosophical debate concerning whether abstract concepts like "redness&...
The Metaphysical Problem of the One and Many: Unraveling Reality's Fabric Summary: The Metaphysical Problem of the One and Many stands as one of philosophy's most enduring and fundamental questions. It probes how a diverse, ever-changing world of particular things can be understood in relation to...
The Element of Being and Non-Being: A Fundamental Inquiry into Existence Summary: At the very heart of Metaphysics lies the profound question of existence itself, encapsulated by the Element of Being and Non-Being. This article delves into the historical philosophical journey through this fundamental Opposition, from Parmenides' stark assertion...
The Metaphysical Weave: Unpacking the Definition of Quality and Form In the grand tapestry of existence, how do we truly understand what something is? This article delves into the profound philosophical concepts of Quality and Form, exploring their definitions, distinguishing their nuances, and revealing their intricate dance within the realm...
The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking the Philosophical Problem of Quantity The concept of quantity, at first glance, appears straightforward. It seems merely to denote 'how much' or 'how many' of something exists. Yet, beneath this seemingly simple surface lies a profound and persistent philosophical challenge, one that...
Unraveling the Fabric of Reality: The Enduring Problem of Causality in Metaphysics Summary: The problem of causality lies at the very heart of metaphysics, challenging our fundamental understanding of how events are connected and how the world operates. From ancient inquiries into the nature of change to modern debates on...
The Unfolding Mystery: Exploring the Nature of Eternity and Time A Glimpse Beyond the Clock: Understanding Eternity and Time The concepts of eternity and time are not merely abstract notions; they are the very fabric upon which our understanding of existence, consciousness, and the cosmos is woven. At planksip, we...
The Idea of God as a First Principle: Unveiling the Ultimate Ground of Being The concept of God, often relegated to the realm of theology or personal faith, holds a profoundly significant place within Western philosophy, not merely as a supernatural entity but as a First Principle. For centuries, thinkers...
The Enduring Question: Is the Soul Immortal? The concept of the Immortality of the Soul stands as one of philosophy's most profound and persistent inquiries, touching the very core of our existence and understanding of the cosmos. For millennia, thinkers across cultures and spiritual traditions have grappled with...
Defining the One and the Many: A Core Metaphysical Inquiry The philosophical problem of the One and Many stands as a foundational pillar in Metaphysics, probing the very nature of existence. At its core, it asks: is reality fundamentally a unified whole, or is it composed of irreducible, distinct parts?...
The Enduring Echo: Unraveling the Metaphysical Status of Universal Ideas The world around us is a vibrant tapestry of individual things: this red apple, that specific oak tree, Socrates the philosopher. Yet, our minds constantly group these particulars under broader categories – "redness," "tree," "humanity."...
The Unpacking of Existence: Distinguishing Between Being and Essence At the heart of metaphysics—the branch of philosophy dedicated to exploring the fundamental nature of reality—lies a profound and enduring question: the difference between a thing's being and its essence. This distinction, pondered by thinkers from the...
Unraveling the Fabric of Reality: The Enduring Problem of One and Many By Chloe Fitzgerald The "Problem of One and Many" stands as one of the most fundamental and persistent questions in Metaphysics, probing the very nature of Being and how we understand reality. At its core, it...
The Enduring Echo: Unpacking Plato's Idea of Form (Eidos) in Metaphysics Ever found yourself pondering why, despite the endless variety of individual trees, we all seem to know what a "tree" is? Or why some actions strike us as inherently "just," even when their...
Beyond Our Horizon: A Philosophical Journey Through the Hypothesis of Multiple Worlds The Hypothesis of multiple worlds represents one of humanity's most enduring and fascinating inquiries, stretching from the atomistic musings of ancient Greece to the cutting-edge theories of modern astronomy and quantum metaphysics. This article delves into...
Unpacking Reality: The Enduring Wisdom of Matter and Form in Physical Objects A Primal Distinction for Understanding Our World Have you ever stopped to truly consider what a physical object is? Beyond its immediate appearance, what constitutes its very being? This isn't just idle curiosity; it's...
Unveiling the Fabric of Reality: Exploring the Metaphysical Concept of Being The question of Being stands as the bedrock of philosophical inquiry, a fundamental Principle that underpins all other questions about existence, knowledge, and value. In Metaphysics, the branch of philosophy dedicated to understanding the ultimate nature of reality, "...
The Infinite Horizon: Navigating the Limitless Nature of Reality and Thought The concept of infinity stands as one of humanity's most profound and perplexing ideas, a boundless frontier that challenges the very foundations of our understanding. From the rigorous abstractions of mathematics to the grand speculative inquiries of...
Bridging the Divide: The Mind-Body Problem in Modern Science Summary: The Mind-Body Problem, a cornerstone of philosophical inquiry for millennia, asks how the non-physical mind relates to the physical body. While ancient thinkers grappled with this fundamental question, modern science has brought unprecedented tools and insights to bear on the...
Causality in Physics and Metaphysics: Unraveling the Threads of Connection Summary: Causality, the intricate relationship between cause and effect, stands as a foundational concept in both scientific inquiry and philosophical thought. From Aristotle's ancient classifications to the quantum realm's probabilistic dance, and from Hume's...
The Concept of the Soul in Ancient Philosophy: A Journey Through Metaphysical Being The concept of the soul stands as one of the most enduring and perplexing subjects in the annals of philosophy. From the earliest stirrings of rational inquiry in ancient Greece, thinkers grappled with the fundamental nature of...
The Enduring Echo: Exploring the Idea of Form in Metaphysics The concept of "Form" stands as a monumental edifice within the landscape of metaphysics, a cornerstone upon which much of Western philosophy has been built. At its heart, the Idea of Form seeks to unravel the fundamental nature...
The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking the Distinction Between Mind and Soul The concepts of mind and soul have captivated thinkers for millennia, serving as cornerstones in our philosophical quest to understand what it means to be human. While often used interchangeably in everyday language, philosophy, particularly through the lens of metaphysics,...
The Problem of Time and Eternity: A Metaphysical Conundrum The relentless march of moments defines our existence, yet lurking beneath this familiar current is one of philosophy's most profound and unsettling questions: The Problem of Time and Eternity. How do we reconcile our lived experience of a linear,...
The Unseen Foundation: Exploring the Concept of Being in Metaphysics The concept of Being stands as the most fundamental, yet often the most elusive, element in the vast landscape of metaphysics. It is the inquiry into existence itself – not merely what exists, but that something exists, and what it means...
The Element of Good and Evil in the World: A Metaphysical Inquiry Summary: The pervasive presence of both good and evil in our world compels us to question their fundamental nature. Is evil merely the absence of good, or does it possess a distinct element of its own? This article...
The Enigma of Existence: Exploring the Philosophical Concept of Being Dear fellow explorers of thought, The question of Being is arguably the oldest and most profound inquiry in all of Philosophy. It is the bedrock upon which all other philosophical investigations rest, a concept so fundamental yet so elusive that...
The universe, in all its bewildering complexity, often presents us with a profound paradox: how can the multitude of distinct things we perceive be, at the same time, part of a unified whole? This is the essence of The Philosophical Problem of One and Many, a fundamental question that has...
The Concept of Being in Relation to Quality: Unpacking the Fabric of Reality Summary: This article delves into the profound philosophical relation between Being and Quality, two cornerstone concepts in Metaphysics. We explore how Being – the fundamental fact of existence – is invariably characterized and understood through its qualities, examining historical...