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.
Bridging the Chasm: The Mind-Body Problem in Modern Science By Henry Montgomery The ancient conundrum of the Mind-Body problem continues to perplex humanity, not merely as a relic of metaphysics but as a vibrant, often contentious, frontier in modern science. This article delves into how contemporary scientific inquiry grapples with...
Causality in Physics and Metaphysics: Tracing the Threads of Connection Summary: This article explores the profound concept of cause, examining its distinct yet interconnected roles in physics and metaphysics. We will delve into how the natural sciences empirically observe and model causal relationships, contrasting this with the deeper philosophical inquiries...
The Enduring Enigma: Exploring the Concept of the Soul in Ancient Philosophy The concept of the soul stands as one of the most profound and persistent inquiries in the annals of philosophy. From the earliest pre-Socratic speculations to the grand metaphysical systems of Plato and Aristotle, ancient thinkers grappled with...
Unveiling the Enduring Blueprint: The Idea of Form in Metaphysics The concept of "Form" stands as one of the most profound and influential contributions to Western thought, particularly within the realm of Metaphysics. At its core, the Idea of Form attempts to answer fundamental questions about the nature...
The Enduring Distinction: Navigating Mind and Soul The human experience is a tapestry woven with threads of thought, emotion, and an elusive sense of self. For millennia, philosophers and theologians have grappled with the fundamental nature of these inner workings, often drawing a distinction between what we call the mind...
The Enduring Riddle: Confronting the Problem of Time and Eternity The very fabric of our existence is woven with the threads of Time and Eternity, yet their relationship remains one of philosophy's most profound and persistent enigmas. At its heart, The Problem of Time and Eternity grapples with...
Unveiling Existence: The Concept of Being in Metaphysics The concept of Being stands as the bedrock of metaphysics, a profound and often elusive element that underpins all philosophical inquiry into existence itself. Far from a simple dictionary definition, "Being" in metaphysics grapples with the fundamental nature of what...
The Unseen Threads: Exploring the Element of Good and Evil in the World The question of good and evil stands as one of humanity’s most enduring and perplexing philosophical inquiries. From the earliest myths to the most intricate metaphysical treatises, we grapple with understanding their nature, origin, and impact...
The Enigmatic Core: Exploring the Philosophical Concept of Being The question of Being stands as one of the most profound and enduring inquiries within Philosophy. Far from a simple concept, it delves into the very nature of existence, reality, and what it means to be. As an ultimate Principle that...
The Enduring Riddle: Exploring the Philosophical Problem of One and Many In the grand tapestry of Philosophy, few questions resonate with such persistent intrigue and foundational importance as the Philosophical Problem of One and Many. At its core, this ancient enigma grapples with how we reconcile the apparent unity of...
The Inseparable Dance: Being and Quality in Philosophical Thought Summary: The concept of Being stands as the most fundamental subject of metaphysics, inquiring into existence itself. Yet, Being is rarely encountered in isolation; it is invariably accompanied by Quality. This article explores the profound and often complex relation between what...
The Unmoved Mover: Understanding God as First Cause The human mind, ever curious, seeks to understand the origins of all things. Why is there something rather than nothing? This profound question has driven philosophical inquiry for millennia, leading many thinkers to posit the existence of a First Cause – an ultimate...
The Problem of Time and Infinity: A Metaphysical Conundrum The problem of Time and Infinity stands as one of Metaphysics' most enduring enigmas, challenging our fundamental understanding of existence. This article explores how these concepts intertwine, examining historical philosophical perspectives from the Great Books of the Western World and...
The Logic of Same and Other: Navigating Identity in Metaphysics Summary At the very heart of metaphysics lies a fundamental distinction that shapes our entire understanding of reality: the logic of "Same" and "Other." This article delves into how philosophers, from the ancient Greeks to later...
The Philosophy of Space: An Infinite Inquiry The concept of space is so fundamental to our experience that we often take it for granted, yet it has been a fertile ground for profound philosophical inquiry for millennia. This article delves into the rich history and ongoing debates within the philosophy...
The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking the Metaphysical Status of Universal Forms The question of "Universal Forms" stands as one of the most foundational and persistent inquiries in Metaphysics. It grapples with how we understand shared properties, concepts, and essences across countless individual things. Why, for instance, can we identify...
The Enduring Riddle: Unpacking the Metaphysical Problem of the One and Many The Metaphysical Problem of the One and Many stands as one of philosophy's most ancient and persistent puzzles. At its core, it asks: how can the diverse, ever-changing world of individual things (the Many) be understood...
The Enduring Dance: Unpacking the Element of Being and Non-Being A Foundational Inquiry into Existence and Its Shadow At the very core of Metaphysics, perhaps the most fundamental Element of all philosophical inquiry, lies the enigmatic relationship between Being and Non-Being. This supporting article delves into how Western thought, particularly...
The Intricate Dance of Being: Defining Quality and Form A Journey into the Metaphysics of Essence The concepts of "Quality" and "Form" are foundational pillars in our understanding of reality, constantly challenging us to refine our definition of existence itself. This article delves into these profound...
The Elusive Nature of "How Much": Exploring the Philosophical Problem of Quantity Summary: The concept of Quantity, seemingly straightforward as a measure of "how much," presents one of Philosophy's most profound and persistent challenges. Far from being a mere mathematical tool, the Definition and...
The Unseen Threads: Navigating the Problem of Causality in Metaphysics Summary: The problem of causality in metaphysics is one of philosophy's most enduring and profound challenges. It asks not merely what causes what, but what it means for something to be a cause, exploring the fundamental nature of...
Beyond the Clock: Unpacking the Metaphysics of Eternity and Time The Enduring Enigma: A Philosophical Journey Through Eternity and Time The concepts of Eternity and Time are not merely abstract constructs for philosophers to muse upon; they are the very fabric of our perceived reality and the bedrock of countless...
The Unmoved Mover, The Absolute Idea: God as a First Principle in Western Metaphysics This article explores the profound and enduring role of the Idea of God as a First Principle within Western philosophical thought. Drawing upon the rich tapestry of the Great Books, we trace how thinkers from antiquity...
The Enduring Question: Exploring the Immortality of the Soul The concept of the Immortality of the Soul stands as one of humanity's most persistent and profound inquiries, reaching across millennia and cultures. It asks whether the essence of who we are—our consciousness, our personality, our very being—...
Defining the One and the Many: A Perennial Metaphysical Inquiry At the very bedrock of philosophical inquiry lies a question as ancient as thought itself, yet as fresh as the morning dew: How do we reconcile the singular unity of existence with the undeniable multiplicity of phenomena? This article delves...
The Metaphysical Status of Universal Ideas: Unpacking Reality's Blueprints The question of "universals" stands as one of the most enduring and fundamental inquiries in metaphysics, probing the very nature of reality and our understanding of it. At its core, the debate concerns whether general concepts—like...
The Fundamental Divide: Unpacking the Distinction Between Being and Essence The distinction between Being and Essence stands as a cornerstone in metaphysics, offering a profound framework for understanding reality. Simply put, Being refers to the act of existing – that a thing is. Essence, on the other hand, describes what a...
Unraveling Reality: The Enduring Problem of the One and Many Summary: At the very core of Metaphysics, the "Problem of One and Many" asks how individual, particular things relate to universal concepts, or how a singular underlying reality gives rise to the myriad of distinct entities we perceive....
The Enduring Legacy of Platonic Forms: Unveiling Reality's Blueprint In the vast tapestry of Metaphysics, few concepts have cast as long and profound a shadow as Plato's Idea of Form, or Eidos. At its heart, this theory posits that beyond the fleeting, imperfect world we perceive...
Exploring the Plurality of Existence: The Hypothesis of Multiple Worlds The notion that our existence might not be singular, but rather one among an infinite tapestry of worlds, is a concept that has captivated thinkers for millennia. From the speculative musings of ancient philosophers to the cutting-edge theories of modern...
The Enduring Echo of Hylomorphism: Unpacking the Matter-Form Distinction in Physical Objects Hello, curious minds! Chloe Fitzgerald here, ready to dive into one of philosophy's most foundational and enduring concepts: the matter-form distinction. If you've ever looked at a tree, a stone, or even yourself, and...
Unpacking Existence: The Metaphysical Concept of Being At the heart of all philosophical inquiry lies a question so fundamental, so pervasive, that it often goes unexamined in our daily lives: What is Being? This article delves into the metaphysical concept of Being, exploring its historical interpretations, its inherent complexities, and...
The Limitless Nature of Infinity: A Philosophical Inquiry The concept of infinity stands as one of the most profound and perplexing ideas to ever captivate the human mind. Far from being a mere mathematical curiosity, infinity permeates our understanding of the cosmos, the divine, and even the very fabric of...
The Mind-Body Problem in Modern Science: A Contemporary Conundrum The age-old question of how the Mind relates to the Body remains one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing challenges, even in our era of unprecedented scientific advancement. This article delves into the historical roots of this problem, examines...