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 Enduring Enigma of Fate and Necessity: Can We Truly Choose? The Problem of Fate and Necessity: A Philosophical Overview Have you ever paused to consider if your choices are truly your own, or if they are merely unfolding along a predetermined path? This profound question lies at the heart...
The Problem of Being and Knowledge: Navigating Reality and Understanding The Problem of Being and Knowledge stands as one of the most enduring and fundamental inquiries in Philosophy, a twin helix woven into the very fabric of human thought. At its core, it asks: What is real? and How do...
The Perplexing Dance: Navigating the Problem of Time and Eternity in Metaphysics The concepts of Time and Eternity stand as two of the most profound and perplexing subjects within Metaphysics, challenging our very understanding of existence, reality, and the divine. This supporting article delves into the enduring philosophical Problem of...
The Enduring Enigma: The Problem of Space in Astronomy The problem of space in astronomy is not merely a scientific quandary; it is a profound philosophical challenge that has shaped, and continues to shape, our understanding of the world itself. From the ancients gazing at the celestial sphere to modern...
The Philosophical Problem of Life and Death: An Enduring Inquiry The philosophical problem of life and death stands as one of humanity's most profound and enduring inquiries. Far from being merely biological events, life and death present a complex tapestry of metaphysical, ethical, and existential questions that have...
The Enduring Problem of Sin and Will: A Philosophical Inquiry The human condition is a tapestry woven with threads of choice and consequence, aspiration and failure. At its very heart lies one of philosophy's most profound and persistent dilemmas: The Problem of Sin and Will. How do we,...
Navigating the Labyrinth: The Enduring Problem of Time and Space The very fabric of our existence, the stage upon which all life unfolds, is woven from two enigmatic threads: time and space. Yet, despite their omnipresence, these fundamental concepts present some of philosophy's most profound and persistent problems....
The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking the Problem of Matter and Mechanics From the earliest philosophers gazing at the stars to the quantum physicists probing the fabric of reality, humanity has grappled with a fundamental question: What is the world made of, and how does it move? This seemingly simple inquiry opens...
The Enduring Paradox: Unpacking the Problem of Slavery and Liberty The human story is, in many ways, an ongoing dialogue between the poles of bondage and freedom. From ancient city-states to modern democracies, the Problem of Slavery stands as a stark antithesis to the cherished ideal of Liberty. This article...
The Unending Question: Grappling with Infinity in Space The concept of infinite space presents one of philosophy's most enduring and mind-bending problems. From ancient Greek thinkers to contemporary cosmologists, the question of whether space extends without bound has challenged our understanding of existence, measurement, and the very nature...
The Eternal Riddle: Navigating the Problem of Time and Infinity The nature of Time and Infinity stands as one of the most profound and enduring problems in Metaphysics, challenging humanity's understanding of existence itself. This article delves into the historical and philosophical struggles to grasp these concepts, exploring...
The Enduring Conundrum: Grappling with the Problem of Evil (Sin) in the World The existence of suffering and moral transgression in a World often posited as the creation of an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good deity presents one of philosophy's most persistent and profound challenges: The Problem of Evil....
The Elusive Dance: Time, Consciousness, and the Great Philosophical Problem The relationship between time and consciousness presents one of philosophy's most profound and persistent problems. Is time an objective reality, marching on independently of our awareness, or is it fundamentally a construct of the mind, shaped by our...
The Enduring Conundrum: The Problem of Labor in the State The relationship between labor, the individual, and the state has been a perennial philosophical problem since antiquity. At its core, this problem grapples with how human effort, the very source of societal wealth and individual sustenance, is organized, valued, and...
The Enduring Problem of Sin and Desire: A Philosophical Inquiry The human condition is a tapestry woven with threads of aspiration and apprehension, of noble ideals and base impulses. At its very core lies the profound problem of sin and desire, an ancient philosophical and theological quandary that has captivated...
The Enduring Riddle: Navigating the Problem of Fate and Chance The human experience is a peculiar dance between what seems inevitable and what feels utterly random. From the grand sweep of cosmic events to the smallest daily occurrence, we grapple with the fundamental problem of whether our lives, and indeed...
The Enduring Conundrum: Navigating the Problem of Good and Evil in the World The existence of suffering, injustice, and malevolence alongside beauty, compassion, and virtue presents humanity with one of its most profound and persistent intellectual and emotional challenges: The Problem of Good and Evil in the World. This isn&...
Navigating the Unfathomable: The Problem of Infinity in Mathematics Summary: The Infinite Challenge The concept of infinity stands as one of the most profound and perplexing problems in human thought, particularly within mathematics. Far from being a mere synonym for "very, very large," infinity introduces fundamental challenges to...
The Problem of Art and Imagination: A Philosophical Inquiry Unveiling the Enduring Conundrum From the earliest philosophical inquiries, the relationship between art and imagination has presented a profound and persistent problem. How does the human mind, through the faculty of imagination, create objects and experiences that both reflect and transcend...
The Shifting Sands of Being: Unpacking the Problem of Change and Opposition The world around us is in constant flux. From the fleeting moments of a sunrise to the steady erosion of mountains, change is an undeniable aspect of our experience. Yet, how can something change and still retain its...
The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking the Problem of Time in Physics A Chloe Fitzgerald Reflection Summary: The concept of time, seemingly so intuitive in our everyday lives, presents one of the most profound and persistent problems in physics and philosophy. While we readily measure time as a quantity with clocks, its...
The Problem of Chance in Evolution: A Philosophical Inquiry The theory of evolution by natural selection, a cornerstone of modern science, presents us with a profound philosophical problem: the role of chance. While scientifically indispensable for understanding biological change, the concept of chance in evolution beckons us to ponder deeper...
Unpacking the Infinite: The Enduring Problem of Space and Infinity The human mind grapples with few concepts as persistently and profoundly as the nature of space and infinity. From ancient Greek philosophers to modern cosmologists, the seemingly simple questions – what is space? and can anything truly be infinite? – unravel into...
The Unyielding Grasp: Unraveling The Problem of Fate and Necessity Have you ever felt a profound sense of déjà vu, or that certain events were simply "meant to be"? Or perhaps you've wrestled with the idea that your choices, your very will, might just be an...
The Enduring Conundrum: Navigating the Problem of Being and Knowledge At the heart of philosophical inquiry lies a profound and persistent challenge: "The Problem of Being and Knowledge." This fundamental conundrum asks two interconnected questions: What truly exists (Being), and how can we genuinely apprehend or understand it...
The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking the Problem of Time and Eternity From the fleeting moments of our daily lives to the grand sweep of cosmic history, Time is an undeniable aspect of existence. Yet, its very nature, and its relationship to the concept of Eternity, presents one of philosophy's...
The Enduring Problem of Space in Astronomy: A Philosophical Journey The "Problem of Space in Astronomy" is far more than a mere technical challenge of measurement or observation; it is a profound philosophical quandary that has shaped our understanding of the cosmos and our place within it. From...
The Profound Riddle: Navigating the Philosophical Problem of Life and Death The twin mysteries of life and death stand as the most enduring and fundamental inquiries in philosophy. From ancient Greece to contemporary thought, thinkers have grappled with the profound problem of understanding existence, purpose, and annihilation. This article delves...
The Enduring Conundrum: Unpacking The Problem of Sin and Will The human experience is perpetually shadowed by the perplexing interplay of sin and will. From ancient Greek tragedy to modern existential angst, philosophers and theologians alike have grappled with the fundamental problem: if we possess a will, how can we...
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. We move through space, we live through time. Yet, when philosophers truly begin to probe their nature, they reveal themselves as...
The Problem of Matter and Mechanics: From Aristotle's Potential to Newton's Inertia Summary: The "Problem of Matter and Mechanics" explores a fundamental philosophical dilemma born from the scientific revolution: how the triumphant success of classical physics in explaining the universe through mechanics simultaneously created...
The Enduring Problem of Slavery and Liberty: A Philosophical Examination The human story is inextricably linked to the tension between slavery and liberty. From the earliest civilizations to the present day, societies have grappled with the profound problem of one man holding another in bondage, a practice that fundamentally challenges...
The Unending Question: Grappling with the Problem of Infinity in Space The idea of space stretching on forever is one that simultaneously fascinates and confounds us. It's a concept that challenges our very capacity for understanding, presenting a profound Problem at the heart of metaphysics and cosmology. This...
The Enduring Riddle: Confronting the Problem of Time and Infinity The human intellect has long grappled with concepts that defy easy comprehension, and few present as profound a challenge as the interwoven Problem of Time and Infinity. This article delves into the Metaphysics of these fundamental notions, exploring how philosophers,...