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 Perennial Puzzle: Unpacking the Philosophical Problem of One and Many Welcome, fellow travelers on the intellectual journey! Here at planksip.org, we often find ourselves grappling with the foundational questions that underpin our very understanding of existence. Few are as enduring, as perplexing, and as deeply embedded in the...
The Indivisible Fabric: Understanding Being in Relation to Quality Summary: The concepts of Being and Quality are foundational to Metaphysics, representing not merely distinct philosophical categories but an intricate, interdependent relation. While Being refers to the fundamental fact of existence – that something is – Quality describes the intrinsic characteristics, properties, or...
The Unseen Architect: Exploring God as the First Cause The concept of God as the First Cause is one of the most enduring and profound inquiries in philosophy, serving as a foundational principle in metaphysics and theology across millennia. It seeks to answer the fundamental question: Why is there something...
The Logic of Same and Other in Metaphysics The Enduring Riddle of Identity and Distinction At the heart of Metaphysics, the branch of philosophy dedicated to understanding the fundamental nature of reality, lies the profound and often perplexing relationship between the "Same" and the "Other." This...
The Infinite Enigma: Exploring the Philosophy of Space Summary: The concept of space is one of the most fundamental yet elusive subjects in human thought, lying at the crossroads of philosophy, metaphysics, and physics. This article delves into how thinkers throughout history have grappled with the nature of space—from...
Unveiling Reality: The Philosophical Interplay of Quality and Form The pursuit of understanding what things are lies at the very heart of philosophy. This article delves into two fundamental concepts crucial to this quest: Quality and Form. We will explore their intricate definition, tracing their philosophical lineage, particularly through the...
The Unfolding Cosmos: A Metaphysical Journey Through Eternity and Time The questions surrounding Eternity and Time are not merely academic curiosities; they are deeply woven into the fabric of our existence, shaping how we perceive reality, meaning, and even our own mortality. From the ceaseless flow of moments to the...
The Idea of God as a First Principle The concept of a "First Principle" is a cornerstone of philosophical inquiry, representing the ultimate ground from which all other truths or existences derive. When we turn our gaze to the Idea of God in Metaphysics, we encounter a profound...
The Enduring Question: Is the Soul Immortal? The concept of the Immortality of the Soul stands as one of the most profound and persistent inquiries in human thought, a cornerstone of Metaphysics that has captivated philosophers, theologians, and ordinary individuals for millennia. From ancient Greek dialogues to modern scientific speculation,...
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....
The Enduring Riddle: Navigating the Problem of One and Many The Problem of One and Many stands as one of philosophy's most ancient and persistent puzzles, a fundamental question in Metaphysics that probes the very fabric of reality. At its core, it asks how a multitude of individual,...
Beyond the Visible: Plato's Forms and the Fabric of Metaphysics Plato's theory of Forms, or Ideas (from the Greek Eidos), stands as a monumental pillar in the landscape of Western Metaphysics. At its core, this theory posits the existence of a transcendent realm of perfect, unchanging,...
