Metaphysics

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.

1115 posts

The Mind-Body Problem in Modern Science and Mind

by Henry Montgomery in Mind

The Enduring Enigma: The Mind-Body Problem in Modern Science Unraveling Consciousness in the Age of Neuroscience Summary: The mind-body problem, a cornerstone of philosophical inquiry for millennia, asks how the non-physical mind relates to the physical body. Far from being relegated to dusty philosophical tomes, this profound question remains critically...

Causality in Physics and Metaphysics and Cause

by Emily Fletcher in Cause

Causality in Physics and Metaphysics: Unraveling the Threads of "Why?" The concept of cause is perhaps one of the most fundamental yet elusive ideas in human thought, underpinning both our scientific endeavors and our deepest philosophical ponderings. From the grand cosmic ballet to the smallest subatomic interaction, we...

The Concept of the Soul in Ancient Philosophy and Soul

by Henry Montgomery in Soul

The Concept of the Soul in Ancient Philosophy: A Journey Through Ancient Thought Summary: The concept of the soul stands as one of the most enduring and profound questions in the history of philosophy, particularly in the ancient world. Far from a singular, monolithic idea, ancient thinkers grappled with the...

The Idea of Form in Metaphysics and Idea

by Henry Montgomery in Idea

The Idea of Form in Metaphysics: Unveiling the Blueprint of Reality Summary The Idea of Form in Metaphysics delves into the profound philosophical concept that beneath the shifting appearances of the world lies an eternal, unchanging structure – the Form. This concept, central to understanding Being and reality, posits that true...

The Distinction Between Mind and Soul and Distinction

by Emily Fletcher in Distinction

The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking the Distinction Between Mind and Soul From the earliest stirrings of philosophical inquiry, humanity has grappled with the nature of our inner selves. Are we merely biological machines, or is there something more? This profound question often leads us to two concepts that are frequently used...

The Problem of Time and Eternity and Problem

by Emily Fletcher in Problem

The Problem of Time and Eternity: A Metaphysical Conundrum The nature of Time and Eternity presents one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing challenges, a fundamental Problem that reaches into the very core of our Metaphysics. At its heart lies the tension between our lived experience of a...

The Concept of Being in Metaphysics and Concept

by Emily Fletcher in Concept

Unpacking the Concept of Being: A Metaphysical Journey A Foundational Exploration of Existence Itself The concept of "Being" stands as the very cornerstone of Metaphysics, the branch of philosophy dedicated to understanding the fundamental nature of reality. It asks the most profound questions: What does it mean to...

The Element of Good and Evil in the World and Element

by Daniel Fletcher in Element

The Element of Good and Evil in the World Summary: The concepts of Good and Evil are not mere abstractions but fundamental elements woven into the fabric of our world and consciousness. This article delves into their metaphysical origins, exploring whether they are objective realities or subjective constructs, drawing insights...

The Philosophical Concept of Being and Philosophy

by Emily Fletcher in Philosophy

The Philosophical Concept of Being: Unpacking Existence Itself Welcome, fellow seekers of wisdom, to the very bedrock of philosophical inquiry! Have you ever paused to consider the sheer fact of existence? Not just the existence of a particular tree, or a specific thought, but existence itself? This is the grand...

The Philosophical Problem of One and Many and Philosophy

by Emily Fletcher in Philosophy

The Enduring Riddle of Existence: Unpacking the Philosophical Problem of One and Many Welcome back to the planksip exploration, fellow travelers on the path of inquiry! Today, we dive into a question that has haunted thinkers since the dawn of Philosophy, a fundamental puzzle woven into the very fabric of...

The Nature of The Concept of Being in Relation to Quality

by Daniel Fletcher in Being

The Concept of Being in Relation to Quality A Fundamental Interplay in Metaphysics The concept of Being forms the bedrock of all philosophical inquiry, an elusive yet ever-present notion that underpins our understanding of existence itself. But Being rarely, if ever, presents itself in a pure, unadulterated form. Instead, we...

The Problem of Time and Infinity and Problem

by Daniel Fletcher in Problem

The Unfolding Mystery: Grappling with the Problem of Time and Infinity Friends, fellow travelers on the intellectual journey, let's dive headfirst into one of philosophy's most enduring and mind-bending challenges: The Problem of Time and Infinity. This isn't just an academic exercise; it'...

The Concept of God as First Cause and God

by Emily Fletcher in God

The Unseen Architect: God as the First Cause The human mind, ever curious, inevitably grapples with the grand question of origins. Where did everything come from? Why is there something rather than nothing? For millennia, philosophers and theologians have converged on a profound answer: the concept of God as the...

The Logic of Same and Other in Metaphysics and Logic

by Daniel Sanderson in Logic

The Unseen Architecture of Reality: Decoding the Logic of Same and Other in Metaphysics The very fabric of our reality, the way we perceive and understand everything from a fleeting thought to the enduring stars, rests upon a fundamental distinction: that between "the Same" and "the Other....

The Philosophy of Space and Philosophy

by Emily Fletcher in Philosophy

The Philosophy of Space: A Journey Through Existence The concept of space is one of the most fundamental yet elusive ideas in human thought, lying at the very heart of philosophy and physics. Far from being a mere empty container, space has been a battleground for profound metaphysical inquiries, challenging...

The Metaphysical Status of Universal Forms and Metaphysics

by Benjamin Richmond in Metaphysics

The Enduring Echo: Unpacking the Metaphysical Status of Universal Forms Summary: The metaphysical status of Universal Forms stands as one of philosophy's most profound and persistent inquiries, probing the very fabric of reality. At its heart, this debate concerns whether abstract concepts – such as "redness," "...

The Element of Being and Non-Being and Element

by Benjamin Richmond in Element

The Primal Dance: Unveiling the Element of Being and Non-Being Summary At the very bedrock of philosophical inquiry lies the profound Element of Being and its inseparable counterpart, Non-Being. This foundational Metaphysics explores the nature of existence itself, grappling with what it means for something to be, and conversely, what...

The Definition of Quality and Form and Definition

by Emily Fletcher in Definition

Unpacking the Essence: The Definition of Quality and Form At the heart of philosophical inquiry lies the persistent human urge to define, to categorize, and to understand the fundamental nature of reality. Among the most intriguing and intertwined concepts we wrestle with are Quality and Form. This article delves into...

The Philosophical Problem of Quantity and Philosophy

by Henry Montgomery in Philosophy

The Unseen Depths of Number: Exploring the Philosophical Problem of Quantity Summary: Beyond the simple act of counting, the philosophical problem of quantity delves into the profound nature of "how much" or "how many." It challenges us to examine not just the measurement of things, but...

The Problem of Causality in Metaphysics and Cause

by Daniel Sanderson in Cause

The Elusive Nature of Cause: A Metaphysical Conundrum The world appears to operate on a simple principle: every event has a cause. Drop a ball, and it falls; flip a switch, and a light illuminates. This intuitive understanding of cause and effect underpins our daily lives and scientific endeavors. Yet,...

The Nature of Eternity and Time and Eternity

by Chloe Fitzgerald in Eternity

The Unfolding Tapestry: Exploring the Nature of Eternity and Time The concepts of Eternity and Time stand as twin pillars in the grand edifice of Metaphysics, inviting humanity to ponder not just how we exist, but when and in what context. From the dawn of philosophical inquiry, thinkers have grappled...

The Idea of God as a First Principle and God

by Daniel Fletcher in God

The Idea of God as a First Principle: Unpacking the Ultimate Ground of Being Summary: The Indispensable Concept of a First Principle In the grand tapestry of philosophical inquiry, few concepts have proven as enduringly profound and persistently debated as the Idea of God when conceived as a First Principle....

The Immortality of the Soul and Immortality

by Emily Fletcher in Immortality

The Enduring Enigma: Exploring the Immortality of the Soul The question of whether the soul survives the death of the body is one of humanity's most ancient and persistent inquiries, deeply interwoven with our understanding of existence, purpose, and the very fabric of reality. This article delves into...

Defining the One and the Many and One and Many

by Henry Montgomery in One and Many

Defining the One and the Many: An Enduring Metaphysical Inquiry The question of the One and Many stands as a foundational pillar in the edifice of Metaphysics, a timeless philosophical conundrum that has puzzled and inspired thinkers from the pre-Socratics to the present day. At its heart, this inquiry seeks...

The Nature of The Distinction Between Being and Essence

by Benjamin Richmond in Being

The Unseen Divide: Unpacking the Distinction Between Being and Essence Welcome back to the intellectual arena, fellow seekers of truth. Today, we're diving into one of the most fundamental and enduring puzzles in all of Metaphysics: the profound distinction between Being and Essence. At its core, this isn&...

The Problem of One and Many and One and Many

by Chloe Fitzgerald in One and Many

The Persistent Puzzle of Unity and Plurality: Navigating the Problem of One and Many The Problem of One and Many is a foundational question in Metaphysics, grappling with how the singular and the multiple can coexist and relate within reality. From ancient Greek philosophers to contemporary thinkers, it probes how...

The Idea of Form (Eidos) in Metaphysics and Form

by Daniel Sanderson in Form

The Enduring Blueprint: Understanding the Idea of Form (Eidos) in Metaphysics The philosophical concept of Form, or Eidos in ancient Greek, stands as a cornerstone in the edifice of metaphysics, profoundly shaping how we comprehend reality, knowledge, and existence. At its heart, the Idea of Form, most famously articulated by...

The Element of Good and Evil in the World and Element

by Daniel Fletcher in Element

Unveiling the Elemental Struggle: Good and Evil in the World The question of good and evil stands as one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing inquiries. Is "The Element of Good and Evil" a fundamental constituent of reality, a pervasive force shaping our existence, or merely...

The Philosophical Problem of One and Many and Philosophy

by Emily Fletcher in Philosophy

The Enduring Riddle: Unpacking the Philosophical Problem of One and Many Summary: The philosophical problem of the One and Many is a foundational inquiry into the nature of reality, exploring how diverse, individual things (the Many) can arise from, or be unified within, a singular, coherent whole (the One). From...

The Nature of The Concept of Being in Relation to Quality

by Daniel Fletcher in Being

The Concept of Being in Relation to Quality By Daniel Fletcher The intricate dance between Being and Quality forms a cornerstone of philosophical inquiry, a fundamental relation that shapes our understanding of existence itself. At its core, this exploration delves into how the inherent characteristics and properties of things — their...

The Element of Being and Non-Being and Element

by Benjamin Richmond in Element

The Element of Being and Non-Being: A Fundamental Metaphysical Inquiry The profound element of Being and Non-Being stands as a foundational opposition at the very heart of metaphysics. From the earliest inquiries of the ancient Greeks to the intricate dialectics of modern philosophy, understanding the nature of what is and...

The Idea of God as a First Principle and God

by Daniel Fletcher in God

The Idea of God as a First Principle: Unpacking Metaphysical Foundations In the grand tapestry of philosophical inquiry, few concepts have commanded as much attention, debate, and profound reflection as the Idea of God when posited as a First Principle. This article delves into the rich history of Western thought,...

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