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 concept of progress in human history has been a cornerstone of philosophical inquiry for millennia, shaping our understanding of societal change and individual purpose. Far from a simple, linear ascent, the "Principle of Progress in History" is a complex, often contested idea that posits an underlying directionality...
The Irreducible Fabric of Existence: Meditations on the Universal Law of Cause and Effect Summary: The Universal Law of Cause and Effect posits that every event, or "effect," is the inevitable consequence of a preceding event, or "cause." This fundamental principle suggests that nothing happens without...
The Elusive Ascent: Unpacking the Principle of Progress in Evolution Summary: The "Principle of Progress in Evolution" posits that life, through successive generations, exhibits a directional change towards increasing complexity, adaptation, or even perfection. While evolution itself is an undeniable fact of biological change, the notion of inherent...
The Universal Principle of Life: An Everlasting Inquiry In the grand tapestry of existence, philosophers throughout history have sought to identify a singular, underlying truth – a Universal Principle that governs all things, especially the phenomenon of Life. This article delves into the enduring philosophical quest to understand such a principle,...
The Unseen Threads: Unraveling the Law of Cause and Effect The Law of Cause and Effect is a fundamental principle asserting that every event, or effect, is the inevitable result of a preceding event, or cause. This foundational Law underpins our understanding of reality, guiding scientific inquiry, philosophical thought, and...
The Indispensable Anchor: Why Truth is Necessary for Knowledge Summary: This article argues that truth is not merely a desirable characteristic of beliefs, but an absolute necessity for genuine knowledge. Without truth, what we believe, no matter how well-justified or firmly held, ceases to be knowledge and devolves into mere...
The Unseen Architect: God as a First Principle in Western Thought From the dawn of philosophy, thinkers have grappled with the fundamental questions of existence: What is real? Why is there something rather than nothing? At the heart of many profound inquiries lies the Idea of God – not merely as...
The Unseen Threads: Unraveling the Principle of Cause and Effect in Mechanics The world around us, from the orbital dance of planets to the simple act of pushing a cart, operates on a fundamental truth: every effect has a cause. This Principle of Cause and Effect is not merely an...
The Universal Laws of Nature: Unveiling the Cosmos' Enduring Principles The quest to understand the fundamental order of the universe is perhaps the oldest and most profound philosophical endeavor. From the rhythmic dance of the planets to the intricate patterns of life, we observe a cosmos that appears governed...
The Enduring Foundation: Why the Constitution is the Bedrock of Our Laws In the grand tapestry of human governance, few documents hold the weight and profound significance of a nation's Constitution. It is not merely a set of rules, but the very Principle upon which all subsequent Law...
The Unyielding Bedrock: Exploring the Principle of Non-Contradiction The Principle of Non-Contradiction (PNC) stands as perhaps the most fundamental axiom in all of Logic and Reasoning. At its core, it asserts that something cannot both be and not be at the same time and in the same respect. It is...
The Indispensable Dance: Oppositional Forces as Nature's Core Principle Life, as we experience it, is a tapestry woven from threads of tension and release, growth and decay, light and shadow. At the heart of this intricate design lies a profound philosophical insight: the universe, in its very essence,...
The Enduring Quest: Unpacking the Nature of Universal Law The concept of a universal law stands as one of philosophy's most profound and persistent inquiries. It posits the existence of governing principles or laws that transcend individual experience, cultural differences, and even the limitations of time and space,...
The Inexorable Weave: Unraveling the Logic of Cause and Effect The universe, in its grand complexity, often presents itself as an intricate tapestry where every thread seems connected to another. At the very heart of our attempts to comprehend this vastness lies a fundamental philosophical inquiry: the nature of cause...
The Unyielding Compass: Navigating Reality with the Universal Principle of Reason The human mind, in its relentless quest for understanding, has long sought an unshakeable foundation for its inquiries. At the heart of this pursuit lies what we might call the Universal Principle of Reason – an inherent, fundamental capacity and...
The Uncaused First: Navigating the Theological Debate on God's Cause The question of cause is perhaps the most fundamental inquiry of human reason. We observe the world as a vast chain of effects, each tracing back to a prior cause. But what happens when this chain seems to...
The Universal Principle of Immortality: An Enduring Philosophical Inquiry Summary: The concept of a "Universal Principle of Immortality" posits that immortality is not merely a particular hope for individual survival, but a fundamental, inherent truth woven into the fabric of existence itself. This article explores how this universal...
The Enduring Question: Unpacking the Philosophical Concept of Being At the very heart of Philosophy, transcending all other inquiries, lies the enigmatic and profound question of Being. What does it mean to be? Why is there something rather than nothing? This pillar page embarks on a journey through millennia of...
The Unfolding Cosmos: Deciphering the Intricate Relation Between Cause and Change Every moment of existence, from the grand cosmic ballet to the subtlest shift in human thought, is a testament to the profound relation between cause and change. At its heart, this philosophical inquiry seeks to understand how one state...
The Principle of Justice in War and Peace: A Philosophical Imperative Navigating the Moral Labyrinth of Conflict and Concord The quest for justice stands as one of humanity's most persistent and profound endeavors, particularly when confronting the stark realities of war and peace. From ancient battlefields to modern...
The Universal Laws of Mathematics: An Enduring Philosophical Inquiry The Universal Laws of Mathematics stand as a profound testament to an underlying order, challenging us to ponder whether these immutable truths are human constructs or echoes of an eternal reality. From the elegant symmetry of geometry to the abstract rigour...
The Unmoved Mover: Exploring the Concept of God as First Cause A Foundational Inquiry into Existence The concept of God as the First Cause stands as one of the most enduring and profound inquiries in the history of metaphysics. It is a philosophical principle that seeks to answer the fundamental...
The Universal Principle of Desire: A Chloe Fitzgerald Exploration Summary: At the core of all being and action lies a fundamental force: desire. This article explores the concept of desire not merely as a fleeting want, but as a universal principle that animates existence. Drawing insights from the Great Books...
The Indispensable Foundation: Why Knowledge Demands Truth Knowledge, that most coveted of human acquisitions, is often discussed as a mere collection of facts or an accumulation of justified beliefs. Yet, upon closer philosophical inspection, one discovers a profound and non-negotiable prerequisite for genuine knowledge: truth. To claim to know something...
The Unseen Threads: Unraveling the Logical Connection Between Cause and Effect Summary: The relationship between cause and effect is not merely an observed regularity but a cornerstone of human understanding, deeply rooted in philosophical inquiry. This article explores the historical evolution of how we've grappled with this fundamental...
The Enduring Principle of War and Peace: A Philosophical Inquiry The perennial dance between conflict and concord, between the destructive fury of war and the serene aspiration for peace, forms one of the most profound and persistent Principles of human existence. From the earliest city-states to the complexities of globalized...
The Unshakeable Bedrock of Thought: Exploring the Principle of Non-Contradiction Summary: The Principle of Non-Contradiction stands as a foundational axiom in philosophy and logic, asserting that a statement and its negation cannot both be true at the same time and in the same respect. Often attributed to Aristotle, this principle...
The Enduring Quest for a Universal Concept of Law The idea that certain principles of justice and order transcend cultural and historical boundaries is one of philosophy's most persistent and profound inquiries. At planksip.org, we often grapple with concepts that shape human understanding, and few are as...
The Unfolding Tapestry: Examining the Principle of Progress in History The notion that History is not merely a sequence of events but an unfolding narrative tending towards improvement is one of philosophy's most enduring and contentious ideas. This article explores the "Principle of Progress," dissecting its...
The Enduring Principle: Navigating the Universal Law of Cause and Effect The universe, in its grand complexity and minute details, often appears to operate according to an intrinsic logic, a rhythm that underpins all existence. At the heart of this cosmic order lies what philosophers have long termed the Universal...
The Principle of Progress in Evolution: A Philosophical Inquiry into Directional Change Summary: The "Principle of Progress in Evolution" suggests that life, over vast stretches of time, tends towards increasing complexity, organization, or some form of "betterment." While evolution fundamentally describes change through natural selection, the...
The Unfolding Mystery: Exploring the Universal Principle of Life At the core of all existence, beneath the myriad forms and fleeting moments, lies an elusive yet undeniable truth: The Universal Principle of Life. This principle is not merely a biological descriptor, but a profound philosophical concept that seeks to understand...
The Unyielding Principle of Causality: Unpacking the Law of Cause and Effect The Law of Cause and Effect stands as one of the most fundamental principles governing our understanding of the universe. Simply put, it posits that every effect has a preceding cause, and every cause leads to an effect....
The Unyielding Foundation: Why Truth is a Prerequisite for Knowledge To genuinely know something is to possess a profound certainty, a conviction that stands apart from mere belief or opinion. But what grants this distinction? The answer, as generations of philosophers have tirelessly argued, lies in the indispensable role of...