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: Unpacking the Problem of Time in Physics Time, that elusive constant in our lives, feels intuitively simple: it flows, it progresses, it marks the rhythm of existence. Yet, beneath this everyday experience lies one of the most profound and persistent problems in both philosophy and physics. Far...
The Unsettling Dance: Exploring the Problem of Chance in Evolution By Chloe Fitzgerald The scientific theory of evolution, particularly through natural selection, offers a profoundly powerful explanation for the diversity and complexity of life on Earth. Yet, nestled within its core mechanisms lies a philosophical conundrum that continues to provoke...
The Problem of Fate and Necessity: Unraveling the Threads of Existence A Timeless Conundrum: Are We Truly Free? The Problem of Fate and Necessity stands as one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing challenges. At its core, it asks a fundamental question: Are our lives predetermined, or do...
Unraveling the Gordian Knot: The Enduring Problem of Being and Knowledge Summary: At the very heart of philosophy lies a profound and persistent tension: the Problem of Being and Knowledge. This isn't merely an academic exercise; it's the fundamental inquiry into what genuinely exists (ontology) and...
The Enduring Philosophical Quandary of Space in Astronomy The problem of space in astronomy is not merely a scientific puzzle concerning cosmic distances or celestial mechanics; it is a profound philosophical inquiry that has shaped our understanding of the World from antiquity to the present day. This article delves into...
The Philosophical Problem of Life and Death: An Enduring Inquiry The philosophical problem of Life and Death stands as perhaps the most fundamental and universally perplexing inquiry for humanity. It is not merely a biological fact or a spiritual belief, but a profound problem that challenges our understanding of existence,...
Beyond the Clock and the Map: Unraveling the Philosophical Problem of Time and Space Summary: The concepts of time and space are fundamental to our existence, yet their true nature presents one of philosophy's most profound and enduring challenges. This article delves into the historical philosophical approaches to...
The Enduring Riddle: Unpacking the Problem of Matter and Mechanics From the ancient Greek physis to the intricate equations of quantum mechanics, humanity has grappled with the fundamental nature of reality. At the heart of this enduring philosophical quest lies The Problem of Matter and Mechanics: the persistent difficulty in...
The Enduring Problem: Slavery, Liberty, and the Human Condition The problem of slavery and the profound human yearning for liberty stands as one of the most persistent and perplexing philosophical dilemmas throughout history. From the ancient world's rationalizations of bondage to the Enlightenment's fervent declarations of...
The Endless Horizon: Grappling with the Problem of Infinity in Space The concept of space, vast and encompassing, often leads us to ponder its ultimate extent. Is space truly boundless, stretching into an infinity that defies human comprehension, or does it possess a finite, albeit immense, boundary? This question, far...
The Unfolding Mystery: Confronting the Problem of Time and Infinity The human mind, in its ceaseless quest for understanding, inevitably grapples with concepts that stretch the limits of its comprehension. Among the most profound and persistent of these are Time and Infinity. This article delves into the intricate problem these...
The Enduring Conundrum: The Problem of Evil (Sin) in the World The existence of suffering, injustice, and moral transgression in a world purportedly governed by a benevolent and omnipotent deity presents one of philosophy and theology's most enduring and vexing challenges: The Problem of Evil. This article delves...
The Unfolding Moment: Navigating the Problem of Time and Consciousness The relationship between time and consciousness presents one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing problems. At its core, this is the problem of how our subjective experience of a flowing present, a past that was, and a future...
The Enduring Quandary: The Problem of Labor in the State From ancient city-states to modern globalized nations, the relationship between labor and the state has been a crucible of philosophical inquiry, economic debate, and social upheaval. At its core, The Problem of Labor in the State grapples with how human...
The Problem of Sin and Desire: An Enduring Philosophical Conundrum The human experience is perpetually caught in a profound tension between what we crave and what we ought to do. This article explores "The Problem of Sin and Desire," delving into how philosophy, particularly as illuminated by the...
The Enduring Riddle: Unpacking the Problem of Fate and Chance The human experience is a perpetual dance between what seems destined and what feels utterly random. From the grand sweep of history to the intimate choices of a single day, we grapple with the fundamental question: Are events predetermined, or...
The Enduring Conundrum: Navigating the Problem of Good and Evil in Our World Author: Chloe Fitzgerald The question of good and evil is perhaps the most fundamental and persistent philosophical problem humanity faces. From ancient myths to modern ethics, we grapple with understanding their nature, their origins, and their profound...
The Enduring Problem of Infinity in Mathematics The concept of infinity stands as one of the most profound and perplexing challenges within mathematics, deeply intertwined with our philosophical understanding of quantity, existence, and the very fabric of reality. From the earliest philosophical inquiries to the most advanced mathematical theories, infinity...
The Enduring Conundrum: Unpacking the Problem of Art and Imagination The relationship between art and imagination presents one of philosophy's most enduring and fascinating problems. From ancient Greece to modern thought, thinkers have grappled with how this powerful human faculty shapes our perception of reality, influences our mind,...
The Unsettling Dance of Reality: Navigating the Problem of Change and Opposition A Timeless Enigma: The Core Problem From the ceaseless flow of a river to the shifting sands of human experience, change is an undeniable aspect of our existence. Yet, beneath this dynamic surface lies one of philosophy'...
The Elusive Flow: Confronting the Problem of Time in Physics A Chronological Conundrum: The Problem of Time The Problem of Time in Physics is one of the most profound and persistent challenges facing scientists and philosophers alike. While we experience time as a relentless, unidirectional flow – a quantity that clocks...
The Philosophical Quandary of Chance in Evolution The concept of chance within the framework of evolution presents one of the most enduring and fascinating philosophical problems for science and our understanding of the natural world. Far from being a mere scientific detail, the role of randomness in shaping life'...
The Unending Riddle: Navigating the Problem of Space and Infinity The very fabric of our reality, the stage upon which all existence unfolds, seems utterly fundamental: space. Yet, when we dare to peer closely at its nature, particularly through the lens of infinity, we quickly find ourselves adrift in a...
The Problem of Fate and Necessity: Navigating Freedom in a Determined Universe The problem of fate and necessity is one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing questions: Are our choices truly free, or are they predetermined by an inescapable chain of causes, divine decree, or the very laws...
The Enduring Conundrum: Unpacking the Problem of Being and Knowledge The very cornerstone of philosophy rests upon a fundamental, intertwined problem: how do we reconcile Being – the nature of reality, of existence itself – with Knowledge – our capacity to understand, perceive, and articulate that reality? This isn't merely an...
Navigating the Labyrinth: The Problem of Time and Eternity The concepts of Time and Eternity form one of the most profound and persistent challenges in the history of Metaphysics. From the ancient Greeks to contemporary philosophers, thinkers have grappled with understanding the nature of our temporal existence in relation to...
The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking the Problem of Space in Astronomy The concept of space—that vast, seemingly empty canvas upon which the cosmos unfolds—is far from a simple, self-evident truth. For millennia, humanity has grappled with its nature, particularly as our understanding of astronomy has evolved. From the finite,...
The Inescapable Inquiry: Unpacking the Philosophical Problem of Life and Death The grandest questions of human existence invariably circle back to two fundamental poles: life and death. Far from being mere biological events, these concepts form the bedrock of philosophical inquiry, presenting an intricate problem that has captivated thinkers from...
The Enduring Conundrum: Unpacking the Problem of Sin and Will The human condition is a tapestry woven with threads of aspiration and transgression, reason and desire. At its very core lies a profound philosophical and theological problem: the intricate relationship between sin and will. Why do we, often knowing what...
Navigating the Labyrinth: The Enduring Problem of Time and Space Have you ever stopped to truly ponder what time is? Or what space means beyond the immediate room you're in? For millennia, these fundamental concepts, seemingly self-evident in our daily lives, have presented philosophers with some of the...
The Enduring Puzzle: Navigating the Problem of Matter and Mechanics The quest to understand the fundamental nature of reality has long been a cornerstone of philosophical inquiry, and perhaps no challenge has been more persistent than the problem of matter and mechanics. From the ancient Greeks to contemporary physics, thinkers...
The Problem of Slavery and Liberty: An Enduring Philosophical Conundrum The relationship between slavery and liberty stands as one of the most profound and persistent problems in the history of human thought. From ancient city-states to modern democracies, philosophers have grappled with the inherent contradiction of a species capable of...
The Infinite Expanse: Grappling with the Problem of Infinity in Space The concept of an infinite universe, while captivating, presents one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing problems: the problem of infinity in space. This article explores the profound philosophical challenges that arise when we contemplate a boundless...
The Problem of Time and Infinity: A Metaphysical Conundrum The very fabric of our reality, as we perceive it, is interwoven with the enigmatic concepts of Time and Infinity. For millennia, philosophers have grappled with the profound Problem of understanding these fundamental dimensions of existence, often finding themselves in a...