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 Shadow: Grappling with the Problem of Evil (Sin) in Our World Summary: The Problem of Evil, often framed as the incompatibility of a benevolent, omnipotent God with the existence of suffering and moral wrongdoing, has haunted philosophers and theologians for millennia. This article explores its multifaceted nature, from...
The Enduring Dilemma: The Problem of Labor in the State The relationship between labor, the individual, and the State has been a foundational problem in political philosophy since antiquity. At its core, the Problem of Labor in the State explores how human effort, the bedrock of all production and the...
The Problem of Sin and Desire: A Perennial Philosophical Struggle The human condition is perpetually caught in a profound tension between our innate desires and the moral strictures we impose upon ourselves, or that are imposed by societal and divine law. This tension, often framed as The Problem of Sin...
Unraveling the Threads: The Enduring Problem of Fate and Chance The human mind has long grappled with the profound question of whether our lives are predetermined by an unyielding fate or if we navigate a world governed by the unpredictable whims of chance. This enduring philosophical problem lies at the...
The Enduring Conundrum: Navigating the Problem of Good and Evil in the World The existence of good and evil is perhaps the most fundamental and vexing problem that humanity has grappled with across every culture and era. From ancient myths to modern ethics, the question of why suffering, injustice, and...
The Unending Quandary: Navigating the Problem of Infinity in Mathematics Infinity. The very word conjures images of boundless space, eternal time, and numbers stretching beyond comprehension. Yet, what seems like a simple concept, an endless quantity, has historically presented one of the most profound problems in both philosophy and mathematics....
The Ever-Shifting Sands of Being: Unpacking the Problem of Change and Opposition As Chloe Fitzgerald, I find few philosophical inquiries as captivating and foundational as The Problem of Change and Opposition. It's a question that cuts to the very core of our experience, challenging us to reconcile the...
The Unfolding Mystery: Confronting the Problem of Time in Physics Time. We feel it, measure it, live by it. Yet, for all its undeniable presence in our daily lives, time remains one of the most profound and persistent problems in both philosophy and physics. From the ancient musings of Augustine...
Unpacking the Enigma of Chance in Evolution The role of chance in evolution isn't merely a fascinating detail for science; it presents one of the most profound philosophical problems of our time. At its core, the question asks us to reconcile our deep-seated human desire for meaning and...
The Enduring Riddle: Grappling with Space and Infinity From the earliest philosophical inquiries to the cutting edge of modern cosmology, humanity has been captivated and confounded by the concepts of space and infinity. This article delves into the problem of how we conceive these fundamental aspects of reality, tracing their...
The Unyielding Question: Navigating The Problem of Fate and Necessity Summary: The problem of fate and necessity explores the profound and enduring tension between the belief that all events are predetermined and the human experience of free will and moral responsibility. This philosophical conundrum asks whether our choices are genuinely...
Navigating the Labyrinth: The Enduring Problem of Being and Knowledge A Fundamental Inquiry into Reality and Perception The very bedrock of philosophy rests upon a profound and persistent problem: how do we reconcile what is (Being) with what we can know (Knowledge)? This isn't just an academic exercise;...
The Unfolding Mystery: Navigating the Problem of Time and Eternity We all feel the relentless march of time, a constant, undeniable force shaping our lives, yet its true nature remains one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing problems. From the fleeting moment to the vast expanse of the...
The Problem of Space in Astronomy: A Philosophical Odyssey Through the Cosmos Summary The concept of "space," often taken for granted as the empty stage upon which the drama of the "World" unfolds, presents one of the most profound and enduring philosophical "problems" in...
The Enduring Riddle: Confronting the Philosophical Problem of Life and Death Summary: The Philosophical Problem of Life and Death stands as one of humanity's most profound and persistent inquiries, transcending scientific and biological explanations to delve into questions of meaning, consciousness, and ultimate reality. From ancient contemplations on...
The Labyrinthine Interplay: Exploring the Problem of Sin and Will The human condition is perpetually entangled in the profound philosophical and theological problem of sin and will. At its core, this inquiry seeks to understand how a seemingly free will can choose actions deemed contrary to the good, leading to...
Unraveling the Fabric: The Enduring Problem of Time and Space The very foundations of our existence, the stage upon which all life unfolds, are often taken for granted. We move through space, and we live within time, yet when we pause to truly ponder their nature, we encounter a profound...
The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking the Problem of Matter and Mechanics The universe, in its grand, intricate dance, often presents itself as a colossal machine governed by immutable laws. Yet, beneath the surface of this seemingly straightforward mechanics, lies one of philosophy's most profound and persistent challenges: the problem...
The Enduring Paradox: Unpacking the Problem of Slavery and Liberty The concept of Liberty is often considered an inherent right, a fundamental aspiration of every Man. Yet, throughout history, the stark reality of Slavery has presented one of humanity's most profound and persistent Problems. This article delves into...
The Infinite Expanse: Grappling with the Problem of Infinity in Space The concept of infinity has long haunted the human mind, stirring both awe and profound intellectual discomfort. When we turn our gaze to the cosmos, the Problem of Infinity in Space emerges as one of philosophy's most...
The Intertwined Riddle: Confronting the Problem of Time and Infinity The very fabric of our existence, the medium through which we perceive change, memory, and anticipation, is time. Yet, when we press against its seemingly linear flow, we encounter its bewildering companion: infinity. The philosophical challenge of reconciling these two...
The Perennial Conundrum: Understanding the Problem of Evil (Sin) in the World The existence of suffering, injustice, and moral transgression in a world purportedly governed by a benevolent, omnipotent, and omniscient deity presents one of philosophy's most enduring and vexing challenges: the Problem of Evil. This profound philosophical...
The Enigma of Time and the Conscious Mind The problem of time and consciousness stands as one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing challenges. At its core, it questions how our subjective, deeply personal experience of time—its relentless flow, the distinct passage of past, present, and future—...
The Enduring Dilemma: Unpacking the Problem of Labor in the State Summary: The relationship between labor, the individual, and the state has vexed philosophers for millennia, forming a core problem in political thought. From ancient Greek ideals of societal division to modern critiques of wealth accumulation, this article explores how...
The Perennial Conundrum: Unpacking the Problem of Sin and Desire At the heart of the human condition lies a profound tension: the ceaseless thrum of desire pitted against the often-stern pronouncements of sin. This article delves into the philosophical problem of how our innate inclinations and yearnings frequently collide with...
The Enduring Riddle: Navigating the Problem of Fate and Chance Summary: The problem of fate and chance grapples with fundamental questions about the nature of reality, causality, and human agency. It asks whether events are predetermined by an inescapable cosmic necessity (fate) or if they arise from unpredictable, uncaused occurrences...
The Enduring Problem of Good and Evil in the World: A Philosophical Journey From the earliest campfire stories to the most complex theological debates, humanity has grappled with the profound and often agonizing Problem of Good and Evil in the World. Why do we suffer? What compels us to acts...
The Unending Enigma: Exploring the Problem of Infinity in Mathematics The concept of infinity has always held a peculiar fascination for the human mind, at once a source of wonder and a profound intellectual problem. In mathematics, it transcends merely being a very large number; it represents a quantity without...
The Enduring Problem of Art and Imagination The relationship between art and imagination has long posed a profound problem for philosophers, challenging our understanding of reality, truth, and the very nature of the human mind. From ancient Greece to contemporary thought, thinkers have grappled with whether art, born from the...
The Enduring Riddle: Navigating the Problem of Change and Opposition Hello, fellow travelers on the philosophical journey! Chloe Fitzgerald here, ready to delve into one of philosophy’s most ancient and persistent quandaries: The Problem of Change and Opposition. At its heart, this isn't just an abstract intellectual...
The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking the Problem of Time in Physics The Problem of Time in Physics is not merely an academic curiosity; it's a profound challenge that strikes at the very heart of our understanding of reality. While we intuitively experience time as a relentless, forward-moving current, its...
The Problem of Chance in Evolution: A Philosophical Conundrum The role of chance in the grand narrative of biological evolution presents one of the most profound and persistent philosophical problems for human understanding. While modern science robustly demonstrates how random mutation and natural selection drive the unfolding of life, the...
The Infinite Labyrinth: Unpacking the Problem of Space and Infinity The very fabric of our existence, the stage upon which all phenomena unfold, is often taken for granted. Yet, when we truly begin to scrutinize space and infinity, we stumble upon a philosophical problem so profound it has baffled humanity...
The Unyielding Grip: Navigating the Problem of Fate and Necessity Are our choices truly our own, or are they predetermined by an unyielding chain of events, a grand cosmic script? This is the core of the problem of fate and necessity, a philosophical enigma that has captivated thinkers for millennia....