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 Metaphysical Concept of Being: Unpacking Existence The concept of Being stands as the foundational cornerstone of Metaphysics, the branch of philosophy dedicated to understanding the fundamental nature of reality. It is an inquiry into what it means for something "to be," exploring not just existence itself, but...
The Principle of Liberty in Law: A Foundational Inquiry Greetings, fellow travelers on the intellectual journey. Today, we wrestle with a concept as fundamental as it is elusive: the very Principle of Liberty as it intertwines with Law. It's a dialogue that echoes through the corridors of the...
The Inescapable Thread: Unraveling the Logic of Cause and Effect From the simplest flick of a switch to the grandest cosmic movements, our understanding of the world hinges on one fundamental concept: cause and effect. This article delves into the profound philosophical journey of dissecting this relation, exploring the logic...
The Theological Debate on God's Cause: Unpacking the Ultimate Principle By Daniel Sanderson Summary: The Uncaused Origin of Existence The question of God's cause stands as one of the most enduring and profound inquiries within theology and philosophy. This pillar page delves into the historical and...
The Universal Principle of Immortality: An Enduring Philosophical Quest Summary: The concept of immortality, often intertwined with the nature of the Soul, transcends mere biological survival. It points to a profound Universal Principle – an enduring aspect of existence or consciousness that persists beyond the decay of the physical body. This...
The Dynamic Heart of Reason: Exploring the Principle of Opposition in Dialectic The Principle of Opposition is not merely a philosophical concept; it's the very pulse of Dialectic, driving inquiry and understanding across the vast landscape of Philosophy. At its core, this principle posits that reality, thought, and...
The Unfolding Mystery: A Deep Dive into the Philosophical Concept of Being The question of "Being" stands as the bedrock of all philosophical inquiry, a concept so fundamental yet so elusive that it has captivated thinkers for millennia. At its core, the philosophical concept of Being asks: What...
The Inseparable Dance: Unpacking the Relation Between Cause and Change The philosophical journey to comprehend reality often begins with a fundamental inquiry: How do things come to be, and why do they transform? At the heart of this question lies the profound relation between cause and change. This article explores...
The Principle of Justice in War and Peace: A Philosophical Inquiry The quest for justice stands as one of humanity's most enduring and perplexing philosophical endeavors. From the ancient Greek city-states to the complexities of modern international relations, discerning the appropriate application of moral principles in human affairs...
The Universal Laws of Mathematics: A Glimpse into the Cosmos' Immutable Structure Summary Mathematics, far from being a mere tool for calculation, presents us with a profound philosophical challenge: Are its laws discovered or invented? This article explores the nature of mathematical principles, arguing that they represent a set...
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 Universal Principle of Desire: A Planksip Exploration Summary: This article explores the concept of a Universal Principle of Desire, arguing that despite the myriad particular wants that animate human (and indeed, all sentient) existence, an underlying, fundamental drive propels us. Drawing on the rich tapestry of Western philosophical thought,...
The Enduring Echo: Unpacking the Universal Principle of Life The quest to understand existence has, across millennia, led humanity to ponder whether individual lives and phenomena are merely isolated occurrences or if they are woven into a grander, underlying tapestry governed by a Universal Principle. This article delves into how...
The Unyielding Hand of Necessity: Exploring the Law of Cause and Effect The universe, in its bewildering complexity, often reveals an underlying order that speaks to the very core of our rational understanding. Among the most fundamental of these inherent structures is The Law of Cause and Effect, a principle...
The Indispensable Core: Why Knowledge Cannot Exist Without Truth Summary: At its philosophical heart, knowledge is inextricably linked to truth. To claim knowledge of something is, by definition, to assert that what is known is true. Without truth as its foundational principle, what we hold to be knowledge degrades into...
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 Unseen Hand: Unraveling the Principle of Cause and Effect in Mechanics Summary: The Principle of Cause and Effect stands as a bedrock concept not only in philosophy but also profoundly in Mechanics and Physics. It posits that every event, or effect, is inevitably preceded by one or more events,...
The Enduring Fabric: Unraveling the Universal Laws of Nature The concept of "Universal Laws of Nature" stands as one of philosophy's most profound and enduring inquiries. At its core, it speaks to an inherent order, a set of immutable principles that govern existence, transcending specific instances...
The Enduring Foundation: Why the Constitution is the Bedrock of Law Summary: The Constitution stands as the ultimate Principle and foundational source of Law within a governed society. It is more than a mere document; it is a philosophical statement on how power should be structured, limited, and exercised, safeguarding...
The Unshakeable Foundation: Exploring the Principle of Non-Contradiction The Principle of Non-Contradiction stands as the bedrock of all coherent thought, a fundamental principle without which logic, truth, and reasoning would collapse into an unintelligible chaos. Simply put, it asserts that something cannot be both true and false at the same...
