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.
Defining the One and the Many: A Core Metaphysical Inquiry The question of the One and Many stands as a foundational pillar of philosophical inquiry, a persistent enigma that has occupied the greatest minds throughout history. At its heart, this problem asks: How can we reconcile the apparent unity of...
The Enduring Riddle of Existence: Unpacking the Problem of One and Many A Perennial Philosophical Puzzle At the heart of Metaphysics, the branch of philosophy dedicated to understanding the fundamental nature of reality, lies a profound and persistent question known as The Problem of One and Many. Simply put, it...
The Enduring Utility and Subtle Perils of Analogy in Philosophical Reasoning Analogy, often dismissed as mere illustrative flourish, stands as a foundational tool in the philosopher's toolkit, a bridge connecting disparate concepts to illuminate profound truths. This article delves into the use of analogy in philosophical reasoning, exploring...
The Intricate Dance: Language, Thought, and the Human Mind The relationship between language and thought is one of philosophy's most enduring and fascinating puzzles. Are our thoughts merely expressed through language, or does the very structure of our language shape the way we think and perceive the world?...
The Unseen Threads: Unraveling the Logic of Cause and Effect A Direct Inquiry into Fundamental Connections At the heart of our understanding of the world lies the profound Logic of Cause and Effect. This article delves into this foundational Relation, exploring how we perceive, reason about, and ultimately rely upon...
The Indissoluble Knot: Examining the Connection Between Wealth and Justice The relation between wealth and justice has captivated philosophers for millennia, forming a cornerstone of ethical and political inquiry. At its core, this ongoing dialogue asks: Can a society be truly just if its wealth is distributed unevenly? What role...
The Elusive Embrace: Navigating Desire on the Path to Happiness The human journey is profoundly shaped by an intricate relation between what we yearn for and what ultimately brings us fulfillment. This article explores the philosophical landscape of desire and happiness, delving into how thinkers from the Great Books of...
Unraveling the Fabric: A Philosophical Journey Through Eternity and Time The concepts of Eternity and Time are among the most profound and perplexing in all of Metaphysics. From the fleeting moment to the boundless unknown, these twin pillars shape our understanding of existence, consciousness, and the very fabric of reality....
The intricate dance between the universal principles of justice and the particularities of their application forms the very bedrock of legal philosophy. This article explores the profound relation between the Universal and Particular in Law, examining how abstract ideals of justice must navigate the complexities of individual cases, cultural contexts,...
The Unfolding Tapestry: Logic, Identity, and the Dialectic of Same and Other At the heart of philosophical inquiry lies a foundational challenge: understanding what it means for something to be the same as itself, and conversely, what constitutes otherness. This seemingly simple distinction, far from being trivial, forms the bedrock...
Defining the One and the Many: An Enduring Metaphysical Inquiry The grand tapestry of existence, as we perceive it, is a bewildering array of distinct entities, fleeting moments, and individual experiences. Yet, beneath this vibrant multiplicity, there often stirs a profound intuition of an underlying unity, a singular truth or...
The Inescapable Thread: Unraveling the Logic of Cause and Effect From the simplest flick of a switch to the grandest cosmic movements, our understanding of the world hinges on one fundamental concept: cause and effect. This article delves into the profound philosophical journey of dissecting this relation, exploring the logic...
The Foundational Pillars of Thought: An Exploration of Quantity and Relation In the grand tapestry of human understanding, certain threads are so fundamental, so intrinsically woven into the fabric of our thought, that their very presence often goes unexamined. Yet, it is upon these bedrock concepts that the towering edifices...
The Inseparable Dance: Unpacking the Relation Between Cause and Change The philosophical journey to comprehend reality often begins with a fundamental inquiry: How do things come to be, and why do they transform? At the heart of this question lies the profound relation between cause and change. This article explores...
The Perennial Puzzle: Unpacking the Philosophical Problem of One and Many Welcome, fellow travelers on the intellectual journey! Here at planksip.org, we often find ourselves grappling with the foundational questions that underpin our very understanding of existence. Few are as enduring, as perplexing, and as deeply embedded in the...
The Indivisible Fabric: Understanding Being in Relation to Quality Summary: The concepts of Being and Quality are foundational to Metaphysics, representing not merely distinct philosophical categories but an intricate, interdependent relation. While Being refers to the fundamental fact of existence – that something is – Quality describes the intrinsic characteristics, properties, or...
The Unfolding Tapestry: Exploring the Relationship Between Fate and Will Have you ever paused to consider the intricate dance between what is destined and what we choose? This profound philosophical inquiry, a cornerstone of human thought, delves into the very essence of our existence and agency. At its heart lies...
The relation between labor and slavery is one of philosophy's most enduring and troubling inquiries, a profound exploration into the very essence of Man and his freedom. At its core, this examination unveils how the fundamental human act of shaping the world through work can be twisted into...
