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 Enigma: Navigating the Problem of Infinity in Mathematics The concept of infinity, at once alluring and elusive, has captivated thinkers for millennia. It stands at the very frontier of human understanding, challenging our intuitions and pushing the boundaries of what we can conceive. In Mathematics, however, infinity is...
The Elusive Canvas: Unpacking the Problem of Art and Imagination The relationship between art and imagination is one of philosophy's most enduring and fascinating puzzles. Far from being a simple celebration of creativity, this connection presents a profound problem: how does something born of the mind's...
The Enduring Riddle: Navigating the Problem of Change and Opposition Summary: The problem of change and opposition stands as one of philosophy's most ancient and persistent puzzles, challenging our fundamental understanding of reality, nature, and identity. From the shifting sands of Heraclitus's river to Parmenides'...
The Enduring Riddle: Unpacking The Problem of Time in Physics Time. We experience it, measure it, and are undeniably bound by its relentless march. Yet, despite its omnipresence in our daily lives and its foundational role in almost every physical equation, its true nature remains one of the most profound...
The Unsettling Dance: Confronting the Problem of Chance in Evolution A Philosophical Inquiry into Randomness and Purpose The concept of chance within the framework of evolutionary science presents one of the most persistent and profound problems for philosophical inquiry. Far from being a mere scientific detail, the role of randomness...
The Boundless Enigma: Unpacking the Problem of Space and Infinity The problem of space and infinity stands as one of philosophy's most enduring and mind-bending challenges, a conceptual labyrinth that has captivated thinkers from ancient Greece to the cutting edge of modern mathematics and cosmology. At its core,...
The Problem of Fate and Necessity: Unraveling the Chains of Existence Have you ever felt an undeniable pull, a sense that certain events in your life were simply meant to be? Or perhaps you've wrestled with the profound conviction that every choice you make is genuinely your own,...
The Problem of Being and Knowledge: An Enduring Philosophical Inquiry The intricate dance between what is and how we know it forms the bedrock of philosophical inquiry, a persistent problem that has captivated the greatest minds throughout history. At its core, the Problem of Being and Knowledge grapples with the...
Grasping the Ungraspable: The Enduring Problem of Time and Eternity The problem of Time and Eternity stands as one of the most profound and persistent inquiries within metaphysics. At its core, it grapples with the fundamental nature of existence itself: how we experience duration, change, and succession, and how these...
The Enduring Problem of Space in Astronomy: A Philosophical Voyage Summary: The Problem of Space in Astronomy extends far beyond mere scientific measurement or mapping. It delves into profound philosophical questions concerning the nature of reality, perception, and the very fabric of our World. From ancient Greek cosmologies to modern...
The Philosophical Problem of Life and Death: An Enduring Inquiry A Universal Conundrum The philosophical problem of life and death stands as one of humanity's most profound and persistent inquiries. It is not merely a biological or medical question, but a fundamental challenge that compels us to grapple...
The Enduring Quandary: Unpacking The Problem of Sin and Will The human condition, a tapestry woven with threads of aspiration and lamentable failing, presents no more profound a philosophical knot than The Problem of Sin and Will. This inquiry delves into the very essence of human agency, the nature of...
The Enduring Enigma: Grappling with the Problem of Time and Space The very fabric of our existence—where we are, when we are—seems so self-evident, yet a deeper look reveals a profound philosophical problem. For millennia, thinkers have grappled with the fundamental nature of Time and Space, questioning whether...
The Enduring Problem of Slavery and Liberty: A Philosophical Inquiry The relationship between slavery and liberty stands as one of humanity's oldest and most persistent philosophical problems. Far from a mere historical footnote, it delves into the very essence of what it means to be a man, to...
The Unending Question: Grappling with the Problem of Infinity in Space The concept of infinity, particularly when applied to the vast expanse we call space, presents one of philosophy's most enduring and mind-bending challenges. It’s a problem that forces us to confront the limits of human comprehension,...
The Enduring Problem of Time and Infinity in Metaphysics The concepts of time and infinity stand as two of the most profound and persistent challenges in metaphysics. They are not merely abstract mathematical constructs but fundamental aspects of our experience and understanding of reality. This article delves into the intricate...
The Enduring Shadow: Navigating the Problem of Evil (and Sin) in Our World The existence of suffering, injustice, and moral transgression in a world purportedly governed by a benevolent and all-powerful deity presents one of philosophy's most enduring and vexing challenges: The Problem of Evil. This article delves...
The Problem of Time and Consciousness: A Journey Through the Mind's Temporal Labyrinth Summary: The intricate relationship between time and consciousness presents one of philosophy's most profound and persistent problems. This article delves into how the human mind apprehends, structures, and is perhaps even constitutive of...
The Enduring Problem of Labor in the State: A Philosophical Reckoning The relationship between labor and the State is one of the most persistent and vexing problems in political philosophy. From the ancient polis to the modern nation-state, thinkers have grappled with how human effort—the very engine of society—...
The Enduring Problem of Sin and Desire: A Philosophical Inquiry The human condition is perpetually caught in a profound tension, a philosophical Gordian knot that has occupied the greatest minds across millennia: the Problem of Sin and Desire. At its core, this is a fundamental inquiry into the nature of...
The Tangled Threads of Existence: Navigating The Problem of Fate and Chance The tapestry of existence, it seems, is woven from threads both rigid and loose. At its heart lies a profound philosophical quandary: The Problem of Fate and Chance. This ancient problem confronts us with the tension between the...
The Enduring Paradox: Grappling with the Problem of Good and Evil in the World The existence of both profound goodness and pervasive evil within our shared world is arguably the most ancient and persistent philosophical problem humanity faces. From the innocent suffering of a child to the calculated cruelty of...
The Enduring Enigma: Navigating the Problem of Infinity in Mathematics The concept of infinity has long been a captivating and often perplexing subject, not just for philosophers and mystics, but profoundly so for mathematics. Far from being a mere abstract idea, infinity presents a fundamental problem that challenges our intuitive...
The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking the Problem of Art and Imagination A Chloe Fitzgerald Perspective The relationship between art and imagination presents one of philosophy's most captivating and persistent problems. From ancient critiques to modern aesthetic theories, thinkers have grappled with how the human mind conjures images, narratives, and...
The Unsettling Dance: Navigating the Problem of Change and Opposition A Direct Look at Philosophy's Enduring Riddle The Problem of Change and Opposition stands as one of philosophy's most fundamental and persistent challenges. At its core, it asks: How can something change and yet remain the...
The Enduring Enigma: Confronting the Problem of Time in Physics Summary: Time, that seemingly universal constant governing our lives, presents one of the most profound and persistent challenges in modern physics. While we experience time as a relentless, forward-moving flow, its fundamental nature as a quantity within our most successful...
The Unsettling Roll of the Dice: The Problem of Chance in Evolution We often laud evolution as a testament to nature's ingenuity, a grand narrative of adaptation and survival. Yet, at the very heart of this powerful scientific theory lies a concept that has persistently unsettled philosophers for...
Chloe Fitzgerald on the Infinite Void: Unpacking the Problem of Space and Infinity The very idea of space and infinity has captivated and confounded thinkers for millennia, presenting one of philosophy's most enduring and profound problems. From ancient cosmologies to modern physics, the nature of the boundless, the...
The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking The Problem of Fate and Necessity The tension between what we believe we choose and what might be predetermined by forces beyond our control is one of philosophy's most persistent and profound problems. This pillar page delves into "The Problem of Fate and...
The Problem of Being and Knowledge: Unraveling Existence and Understanding Friends, let's dive into one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing conundrums: The Problem of Being and Knowledge. At its core, this isn't just one problem, but a deeply intertwined set of questions that...
The Enduring Riddle: Navigating the Problem of Time and Eternity The Problem of Time and Eternity stands as one of the most profound and persistent puzzles in Metaphysics, challenging our very understanding of existence, change, and the fundamental fabric of reality. This article delves into how philosophers, from ancient Greece...
The Problem of Space in Astronomy: A Philosophical Odyssey Summary: The concept of space, seemingly straightforward in our daily experience, unravels into a profound philosophical problem when scrutinized through the lens of astronomy. From ancient cosmologies grappling with the void to modern physics contemplating cosmic expansion and dark energy, the...
The Enduring Enigma: Confronting the Philosophical Problem of Life and Death The twin pillars of existence, life and death, present humanity with perhaps its most profound and persistent philosophical problem. From the earliest stirrings of self-awareness, thinkers across civilizations have grappled with what it means to live, the nature of...
The Perplexing Intersections of Sin and Will: A Philosophical Inquiry The human experience is perpetually shadowed by a profound philosophical problem: why do we, as rational beings, often choose paths we know to be detrimental, or commit acts we deem evil? This is the core of "The Problem of...