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 Primal Spark: Desire as the Cause of Sin A Summary of the Human Predicament From the earliest philosophical inquiries to the profound theological treatises of the Christian era, a recurring theme emerges: desire, in its unchecked or misdirected form, often stands as the fundamental cause of sin. This article...
The Labyrinth of Morality: Unpacking Good and Evil in Philosophical Systems The concepts of Good and Evil stand as the bedrock of nearly every moral system, guiding human behavior, shaping societal norms, and fueling profound philosophical inquiry for millennia. From ancient Greece to the Enlightenment and beyond, thinkers have grappled...
The Ethics of Slavery and Human Labor: A Perennial Philosophical Inquiry Slavery, in its myriad forms, has cast a long and dark shadow across human history, forcing philosophers and ethicists for millennia to confront fundamental questions about human dignity, freedom, and the very nature of good and evil. This article...
The Problem of Sin and Will: A Philosophical Inquiry The human condition is perpetually entangled in a profound paradox: our inherent capacity for reasoned choice, or will, frequently leads us to actions we ourselves deem sinful or evil. This isn't merely a theological conundrum; it is a foundational...
Navigating the Moral Compass: The Enduring Distinction Between Good and Evil The concepts of good and evil are arguably the most fundamental pillars upon which human morality, ethics, and even our legal systems are built. Yet, despite their pervasive presence in our language and thought, the precise distinction between them...
The Connection between Sin and Desire is one of philosophy's most enduring and complex inquiries, traversing millennia of thought from ancient Greece to modern ethics. At its core, this connection posits that many actions we deem sinful arise from desires that are either misdirected, uncontrolled, or inherently disordered,...
The Theological Problem of Evil (Sin) The "Theological Problem of Evil (Sin)" presents one of the most enduring and profound challenges to religious belief: how can an all-good, all-powerful God permit the existence of evil, particularly moral evil – that which we term Sin? This pillar page will explore...
Unraveling the Enigma: The Cause of Sin and Moral Error A Direct Inquiry into Our Moral Failings The question of why we err, why we commit what we call sin, has haunted humanity since the dawn of self-awareness. It is not merely an academic exercise but a deeply personal and...
Desire as the Cause of Sin: A Philosophical Inquiry into the Human Predicament Summary: This article explores the profound philosophical assertion that desire, when unchecked or misdirected, serves as a fundamental cause of sin. Drawing upon the wisdom of the Great Books of the Western World, we delve into how...
Navigating the Labyrinth: The Concept of Good and Evil in Moral Systems The concepts of Good and Evil stand as the bedrock upon which all moral systems are built, yet their definitions, origins, and applications have been debated for millennia. From ancient Greek philosophers seeking the path to human flourishing...
Navigating the Labyrinth: The Enduring Distinction Between Good and Evil The human experience, from its earliest articulations in myth to its most rigorous philosophical inquiries, has been perpetually haunted by the fundamental distinction between good and evil. This isn't merely an academic exercise; it's a lived...
The Inseparable Weave: Exploring the Profound Connection Between Sin and Desire in Western Thought Summary: The intricate relationship between sin and desire stands as a foundational theme in Western philosophy and theology, a connection explored by thinkers from ancient Greece to the modern era. At its core, sin is often...
The Ethical Dilemma of Lying: A Journey Through Truth and Sin Navigating the Labyrinth of Honesty and Deception Lying, in its simplest form, is the act of intentionally misleading another. Yet, this seemingly straightforward act unravels into one of philosophy's most enduring and complex ethical dilemmas. Is lying...
The Enduring Conundrum: The Problem of Evil (Sin) in the World The existence of suffering, injustice, and moral transgression in a world purportedly governed or created by an all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfectly benevolent deity presents one of philosophy and theology's most ancient and intractable dilemmas. This is The...
The Theological Problem of Evil: Confronting the Enigma of Sin The existence of suffering and moral failing in a world purportedly created and governed by an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good God presents one of philosophy's most enduring and vexing challenges: the theological problem of evil. At the heart...
The Labyrinth of Our Own Making: Unpacking the Cause of Sin and Moral Error The question of why we err, why we stray from the path of goodness and reason, has haunted humanity since the dawn of philosophy. It's a question not merely academic, but deeply personal, touching...
The Genesis of Transgression: Desire as the Fundamental Cause of Sin From the earliest philosophical inquiries to the profound theological treatises, humanity has grappled with the origins of moral failing. This article posits that desire, in its various manifestations, stands as the primal cause of sin. We will explore how...
The Enduring Shadow: Exploring the Concept of Sin and Moral Judgment From the dawn of civilization, humanity has grappled with the profound concepts of sin and judgment. These are not mere theological relics, but fundamental pillars upon which our understanding of good and evil, morality, and societal order are built....
The Ethics of Slavery and Human Labor: A Perennial Moral Challenge The shadow of slavery stretches across human history, a stark testament to our capacity for both profound ingenuity and profound cruelty. At its core, the institution of slavery represents the ultimate denial of individual autonomy, transforming a human being...
