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: The Mind-Body Problem in Modern Science The relationship between our subjective experience – our thoughts, feelings, consciousness – and the physical stuff of our brains and bodies has perplexed thinkers for millennia. This is the Mind-Body Problem, a foundational question in Metaphysics that continues to challenge Science in the...
Causality in Physics and Metaphysics: An Enduring Enigma Navigating the Fundamental Links of Existence Causality, the intricate relationship between cause and effect, stands as a cornerstone of both our scientific understanding of the universe and our deepest philosophical inquiries into its nature. This article delves into the multifaceted concept of...
The Enduring Enigma: Navigating the Philosophical Problem of One and Many The philosophical problem of the One and Many stands as one of the most fundamental and enduring questions in the annals of Philosophy. At its heart, it asks how the diverse, multitudinous world we experience can be reconciled with...
The Indivisible Thread: Exploring the Concept of Being in Relation to Quality Summary: This article delves into the profound philosophical relationship between Being and Quality, two fundamental concepts in Metaphysics. We will explore how Being—the very fact of existence—is inextricably linked to Quality—the characteristics that define what...
The Uncaused Cause: Exploring God as the First Principle of Existence The human mind, in its ceaseless quest for understanding, inevitably arrives at the most fundamental questions: Why is there something rather than nothing? What is the ultimate origin of all that exists? This profound inquiry leads us to one...
The Unfolding Riddle: Navigating the Problem of Time and Infinity The very fabric of our existence, the canvas upon which all experience is painted, is woven from the threads of Time and Infinity. Yet, these fundamental concepts, so intuitively grasped in daily life, unravel into profound philosophical quandaries upon closer...
The Logic of Same and Other in Metaphysics: Unraveling the Fabric of Reality The concepts of "Same" and "Other" are not mere linguistic distinctions; they are the bedrock upon which much of Western metaphysics has been built. From the ancient Greeks grappling with the nature of...
The Enduring Enigma: Exploring the Philosophy of Space The concept of space is so fundamental to our experience that we rarely pause to consider its profound philosophical implications. Yet, from ancient cosmologies to contemporary physics, thinkers have grappled with its true nature. This article delves into the rich philosophy of...
Unveiling the Enduring Blueprint: The Metaphysical Status of Universal Forms The question of Universal Forms cuts to the very heart of Metaphysics, probing the fundamental nature of reality itself. Are the shared qualities we observe in the world—like "redness," "justice," or "humanity"—mere...
The Enduring Riddle: Confronting the Metaphysical Problem of the One and Many The metaphysical problem of the One and Many stands as one of philosophy's most profound and persistent challenges. At its core, it asks: How can reality be both a unified whole and a collection of diverse,...
The Elemental Opposition: Unpacking Being and Non-Being Summary: At the very core of Western philosophical inquiry lies the profound opposition between Being and Non-Being. This article delves into this fundamental element of metaphysics, tracing its evolution from ancient Greek thought to modern philosophy. We explore how thinkers grapple with existence,...
The Elusive Concept of Being in Metaphysics: An Exploration The concept of Being stands as the bedrock of metaphysics, the branch of philosophy dedicated to understanding the fundamental nature of reality. It's not merely about what is, but how and why anything exists at all. From the ancient...
The Element of Good and Evil in the World: A Metaphysical Inquiry In the grand tapestry of existence, few concepts have captivated the human mind and shaped civilizations as profoundly as the Element of Good and Evil. This article delves into the enduring philosophical inquiry concerning their nature, origin, and...
Unveiling Existence: The Philosophical Quest for Being The concept of Being stands as the bedrock of philosophical inquiry, a term so fundamental yet so elusive that it has captivated thinkers for millennia. At its core, Being refers to the sheer fact of existence – that which is. It is the ultimate...
The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking the Philosophical Problem of One and Many The philosophical problem of the One and Many stands as one of the most fundamental and persistent inquiries in the history of thought. At its core, it grapples with the seemingly contradictory nature of reality: how can the world...
The Indissoluble Bond: Being and Quality in Metaphysical Inquiry Summary: At the core of metaphysical inquiry lies the profound and often overlooked relation between "Being" – the sheer fact of existence – and "Quality" – the specific characteristics that define what something is. This article explores how qualities are...
The Unseen Architect: Unpacking the Concept of God as First Cause The human mind, ever inquisitive, naturally seeks origins. From the simplest ripple in a pond to the vast expanse of the cosmos, we ask: why? This fundamental quest for ultimate explanation leads us to one of philosophy's...
The Problem of Time and Infinity: A Metaphysical Conundrum The Problem of Time and Infinity stands as one of the most profound and enduring challenges in Metaphysics. At its core, it grapples with the very fabric of existence: how we experience duration, sequence, and change, and how we conceptualize that...
The Enduring Enigma: Navigating the Logic of Same and Other in Metaphysics Unpacking the Fundamental Distinctions of Existence Summary: At the very heart of Metaphysics lies a profound and often perplexing question: How do we distinguish between what is Same and what is Other? This article delves into the foundational...
The Enduring Enigma of Space: A Philosophical Journey Space, that seemingly ubiquitous backdrop to all existence, is far more than just the "where" of things. From the vast emptiness between galaxies to the intimate confines of our personal world, it presents one of philosophy's most profound...
The Ever-Present Dance: Unpacking the Element of Being and Non-Being Summary: At the very core of metaphysical inquiry lies a fundamental element: the enigmatic relationship between Being and Non-Being. Far from being a mere logical opposition of presence versus absence, these twin concepts constitute a dynamic interplay that underpins our...
The Enduring Enigma: Exploring the Concept of the Soul in Ancient Philosophy The quest to comprehend the soul stands as one of the most profound and persistent inquiries in the annals of Western philosophy. From the earliest pre-Socratic musings to the sophisticated treatises of Plato and Aristotle, ancient thinkers grappled...