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 Unending Riddle: Navigating the Problem of Time and Infinity A Metaphysical Conundrum The nature of Time and Infinity has haunted philosophers for millennia, presenting one of the most profound problems in Metaphysics. At its core, this challenge asks us to reconcile our lived experience of time's relentless...
The Unfolding Riddle: Time, Consciousness, and the Human Mind The very fabric of our reality, as we experience it, is woven from two of philosophy's most profound and elusive threads: time and consciousness. At the heart of this intricate tapestry lies "The Problem of Time and Consciousness,...
The Enduring Quandary: Unpacking the Problem of Labor in the State Summary: The "Problem of Labor in the State" is a foundational philosophical challenge that grapples with how human productive activity—labor—is organized, valued, and distributed within the framework of a political community. From ancient republics to...
The Enduring Tangle: Unraveling the Problem of Sin and Desire The human condition is a tapestry woven with threads of aspiration and affliction, of noble pursuits and base temptations. At its very core lies "The Problem of Sin and Desire"—a paradox that has confounded philosophers, theologians, and...
The Unfolding Tapestry: Grappling with Fate and Chance The human experience is a curious blend of predictable rhythms and startling surprises. We plan, we strive, we make choices, yet often find ourselves swept along by currents beyond our control. This fundamental tension lies at the heart of one of philosophy&...
The Enduring Enigma: Navigating the Problem of Good and Evil in the World The human experience is a tapestry woven with threads of both profound beauty and devastating suffering. From acts of selfless compassion to horrors of unimaginable cruelty, the stark dichotomy of good and evil confronts us daily. This...
The Unending Enigma: Exploring the Problem of Infinity in Mathematics Infinity, a concept that stretches the limits of human comprehension, presents a profound problem within mathematics, challenging our very understanding of quantity and existence. This pillar page delves into the philosophical and mathematical complexities of infinity, from ancient musings to...
The Problem of Art and Imagination: A Dance of Reality and Illusion Summary: The relationship between art and imagination presents a timeless philosophical problem: Does art, born from the artist's mind and imagination, reveal truth or merely create illusions? From ancient critiques of art as imitation to modern...
The Enduring Riddle: Navigating the Problem of Change and Opposition The world around us is a whirlwind of flux. From the shifting sands of a desert to the subtle evolution of our own thoughts, change is an undeniable constant. Yet, for millennia, philosophers have grappled with this apparent reality, often...
The Problem of Time in Physics: A Philosophical Inquiry Summary: Time, an omnipresent aspect of our experience, poses one of the most profound and persistent problems in both physics and philosophy. While intuitively we perceive time as a linear flow, a universal clock ticking forward, modern physics reveals a far...
The Problem of Chance in Evolution: A Philosophical Inquiry The concept of chance lies at the very heart of evolutionary theory, yet it simultaneously presents one of the most enduring and profound problems for philosophical inquiry. At its core, the problem of chance in evolution asks how seemingly random events...
The Unyielding Grasp: Navigating the Problem of Fate and Necessity Have you ever felt caught between the undeniable pull of destiny and the fierce conviction of your own free choice? It's a feeling that has haunted philosophers for millennia, a profound tension at the very heart of human...
The Enduring Problem of Being and Knowledge At the heart of philosophy lies a profound and enduring problem: the intricate dance between Being and Knowledge. This isn't merely an academic puzzle; it's a fundamental inquiry into what exists and how we come to understand it. From...
The Problem of Time and Eternity: A Metaphysical Conundrum The relentless march of moments defines our existence, yet lurking beneath this familiar current is one of philosophy's most profound and unsettling questions: The Problem of Time and Eternity. How do we reconcile our lived experience of a linear,...
The Problem of Space in Astronomy: From Finite Cosmos to Expanding Universe Summary: The concept of space, fundamental to our understanding of the cosmos, has presented a persistent philosophical problem throughout history, deeply intertwined with the development of astronomy. From ancient Greek notions of a finite, enclosed world to Newton&...
The Enduring Conundrum: Navigating the Philosophical Problem of Life and Death Summary: This article delves into the profound philosophical problem of life and death, exploring how thinkers throughout history, particularly those featured in the Great Books of the Western World, have grappled with the nature of existence, the meaning of...
The Enduring Problem of Sin and Will: A Philosophical Inquiry The perennial problem of sin and will lies at the very heart of human existence, morality, and our understanding of freedom. It is a profound philosophical and theological inquiry into how we, as agents, make choices that deviate from the...
Unraveling the Fabric: The Enduring Problem of Time and Space The concepts of time and space are so fundamental to our existence that we often take them for granted. Yet, when we pause to truly consider their nature, we quickly confront a profound philosophical problem: What exactly are time and...
Beyond the Gears: The Philosophical Problem of Matter and Mechanics The universe, in all its perplexing glory, presents us with an enduring philosophical conundrum: how do we truly understand the fundamental stuff it's made of—matter—and the rules by which it operates—mechanics? This isn't...
The Enduring Paradox: Unpacking the Problem of Slavery and Liberty The intertwined concepts of slavery and liberty represent one of humanity's most profound and persistent philosophical challenges. From the earliest recorded civilizations to the present day, the struggle to define, attain, and defend freedom against various forms of...
The Unfathomable Expanse: Grappling with the Problem of Infinity in Space The concept of infinity has long captivated and confounded human thought, particularly when applied to the very fabric of our existence: space. Is space truly boundless, stretching on forever, or does it have an end? This isn't...
The Unfolding Mystery: When Time Meets Infinity The very fabric of our reality, the ceaseless march of moments we call time, presents us with one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing challenges. But when we dare to intertwine this fleeting concept with the mind-bending notion of infinity, we...
The Enduring Enigma: Confronting the Problem of Evil (Sin) in Our World The existence of suffering, injustice, and moral transgression – what we often term "evil" and "sin" – presents one of the most profound and persistent intellectual and existential challenges to humanity, especially for those who posit...
The Unfolding Mystery: The Problem of Time and Consciousness The human experience is inextricably woven with time. We live, breathe, and perceive within its relentless current, yet its very nature, particularly in relation to our consciousness, remains one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing problems. This article delves...
The Problem of Labor in the State: A Philosophical Inquiry Summary: The Enduring Conundrum of Human Toil The relationship between labor and the state presents one of philosophy's most enduring and complex problems. From ancient Greece to the modern industrial era, thinkers have grappled with how human effort,...
The Problem of Sin and Desire: Navigating the Labyrinth of the Human Soul Summary: The problem of sin and desire lies at the very heart of human experience, forming a perennial philosophical and theological challenge. This article explores how our inherent desires, while essential for life and action, can become...
The Unyielding Grasp and the Fickle Toss: Navigating The Problem of Fate and Chance At the heart of human inquiry lies a profound and enduring Problem: are our lives, and indeed the cosmos itself, governed by an unalterable destiny, or are we adrift in a sea of randomness? This tension...
The Enduring Question: Confronting the Problem of Good and Evil in Our World The existence of suffering, injustice, and malevolence in a world often imagined as orderly or even divinely created presents one of philosophy's most profound and persistent challenges: The Problem of Good and Evil. This isn&...
The Unending Enigma: Navigating the Problem of Infinity in Mathematics The concept of infinity is perhaps one of humanity's most captivating and perplexing intellectual constructs. From the boundless reaches of space to the endless divisions of a line, infinity lurks at the edges of our understanding, a silent...
The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking the Problem of Art and Imagination Art, at its core, is a profound expression of the human mind and its capacity for imagination. Yet, this very capacity gives rise to a complex philosophical problem: how does art, born from the artist's inner world and...
Navigating the Shifting Sands: The Enduring Problem of Change and Opposition The world around us is a whirlwind of flux. From the gentle erosion of a coastline to the profound shifts in our own identities, change is the only constant. Yet, beneath this undeniable dynamism lies one of philosophy'...
The Elusive Arrow: Unpacking the Problem of Time in Physics Time, that relentless march forward, feels like the most fundamental aspect of our existence. We live through it, measure it, and are constantly aware of its passage. Yet, when we turn to physics, the very discipline dedicated to describing reality,...
The Problem of Chance in Evolution: A Philosophical Inquiry The theory of evolution by natural selection stands as one of the most robust frameworks in modern science, yet nestled within its core mechanics lies a profound philosophical problem: the role of chance. While scientists meticulously detail the mechanisms of genetic...
Unveiling the Enigma: The Problem of Space and Infinity The Problem of Space and Infinity stands as one of philosophy's most profound and persistent challenges, questioning the very fabric of our reality and the limits of our understanding. From the boundless cosmos to the infinitely divisible point, this...