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 Concept of Sin and Moral Judgment: A Philosophical Inquiry The concepts of sin and moral judgment stand as towering pillars in the architecture of human thought, profoundly shaping our understanding of good and evil, individual responsibility, and societal order. Far from being confined to the realm of religion, these...
The Ethics of Slavery and Human Labor: A Philosophical Inquiry The question of slavery and the ethical dimensions of human labor stands as one of the most profound and persistent moral challenges in the annals of human history and philosophical inquiry. From the earliest city-states to the complexities of our...
The Enduring Quest: Unpacking the Distinction Between Good and Evil The human experience is perpetually shadowed and illuminated by the concepts of good and evil. From ancient myths to modern ethics, philosophers have grappled with the fundamental distinction between these opposing forces, seeking not only to define them but to...
The Primal Tug: Exploring the Connection Between Sin and Desire A Daniel Fletcher Reflection Summary: The intricate relationship between sin and desire lies at the very heart of the human condition, a recurring theme explored by the great minds of Western philosophy. Far from being a simple cause-and-effect, the connection...
The Ethical Dilemma of Lying: Navigating Truth and Sin The act of lying, at first glance, often appears straightforwardly wrong. Yet, delve deeper into the human experience, and you uncover a labyrinth of justifications, consequences, and deeply held beliefs that complicate this seemingly simple moral judgment. From the "white...
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 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 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 Theological Problem of Evil (Sin): A Paradox of Divine Benevolence The existence of suffering and moral transgression in a world purportedly created and governed by an all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfectly good God presents one of the most enduring and profound challenges to theology. This is the classical "Problem...
The Labyrinth of Wrongdoing: Unpacking the Causes of Sin and Moral Error The question of why humans commit wrong, why we deviate from the path of goodness, is perhaps one of philosophy's most enduring and vexing inquiries. From the earliest dialogues of ancient Greece to the profound theological...
The Genesis of Transgression: Desire as the Root of Sin Summary: In the grand tapestry of philosophical inquiry, few threads are as persistent and perplexing as the relationship between human desire and the phenomenon of sin. From the ancient Greeks to the medieval scholastics and beyond, thinkers have grappled with...
Navigating the Moral Compass: Understanding Good and Evil in Our Systems The concepts of Good and Evil are not mere abstract notions; they are the very bedrock upon which all moral systems are built, shaping our understanding of right and wrong, justice, and human flourishing. From ancient philosophical inquiries to...
The Concept of Sin and Moral Judgment: A Philosophical Odyssey The Weight of Our Choices: An Introduction to Sin and Judgment From the dawn of human self-awareness, the concepts of "sin" and "moral judgment" have profoundly shaped our understanding of self, society, and the cosmos. More...
The Ethics of Slavery and Human Labor: A Perennial Philosophical Inquiry From antiquity to the modern era, the institution of slavery has cast a long shadow over human civilization, forcing philosophers and theologians alike to confront fundamental questions about labor, human dignity, and the very nature of Good and Evil....
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...
A Timeless Inquiry: Unpacking Good and Evil For millennia, humanity has grappled with one of its most profound philosophical challenges: understanding the distinction between good and evil. Is evil merely the absence of good, or a force in itself? How do we arrive at a coherent definition for each, and...
The Unbreakable Thread: Deconstructing the Connection Between Sin and Desire In the intricate tapestry of human experience, few threads are as tightly woven as the Connection between Sin and Desire. From ancient Greek philosophy to the theological insights of the Middle Ages and the ethical frameworks of modernity, thinkers have...
The Ethical Labyrinth of Lying: Navigating Truth, Sin, and Duty The Perennial Puzzle of Deception: A Summary Lying, at its core, presents one of humanity's most enduring and perplexing ethical dilemmas. While often condemned outright as a sin and a violation of truth, the act of deception is...
The Weight of Transgression: Unpacking the Theological Concept of Sin and Punishment A Chloe Fitzgerald Reflection on Divine Justice and Human Failing The concepts of sin and punishment lie at the very heart of theology, forming the bedrock upon which much of our understanding of divine law, human morality, and...
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 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...
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 Theological Problem of Evil: Wrestling with the Shadow of Sin Few questions have gnawed at the human spirit and challenged the foundations of faith quite like the theological problem of evil. At its core, this profound philosophical and religious dilemma asks: How can an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good God...
The Labyrinth of Error: Unpacking the Cause of Sin and Moral Transgression The question of why we err, why we deviate from the path of goodness and reason, is perhaps one of philosophy's most enduring and vexing inquiries. From the earliest Socratic dialogues to the profound theological treatises...
The Serpent's Whisper: Examining Desire as the Root of Sin Summary: Across the venerable pages of the Great Books of the Western World, a recurring philosophical and theological insight emerges: desire, in its various forms, stands as the fundamental cause of sin. This article explores how classical and...
The Shifting Sands of Morality: Deconstructing Good and Evil By Chloe Fitzgerald The concepts of good and evil stand as monumental pillars in the edifice of human thought, shaping our laws, our cultures, and our personal conduct. Far from being simple, universally agreed-upon notions, their definitions have been fiercely debated...
The Labyrinth of Wrongdoing: Deconstructing Sin and Moral Judgment The concepts of sin and moral judgment are not mere theological constructs but profound philosophical inquiries that have shaped human civilization, ethics, and our understanding of good and evil. This guide delves into the intricate history and diverse philosophical interpretations of...
The Ethics of Slavery and Human Labor By Benjamin Richmond The question of slavery and its relationship to human labor stands as one of the most profound and enduring ethical dilemmas in human history. From ancient civilizations to its formal abolition in much of the modern world, slavery has been...
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...
The Tangled Roots: Unpacking the Connection Between Sin and Desire The intricate relationship between sin and desire has perplexed philosophers and theologians for millennia, forming a cornerstone of ethical inquiry across the Great Books of the Western World. This article explores how our deepest desires, whether for pleasure, power, or...
The Ethical Dilemma of Lying: Navigating Truth and Sin Summary: Lying, a pervasive human act, presents one of philosophy's most enduring ethical dilemmas. This pillar page explores the complex interplay between Truth, Sin, Duty, and the concepts of Good and Evil as philosophers and theologians have grappled with...
The Weight of Transgression: Exploring Theological Concepts of Sin and Punishment By Chloe Fitzgerald The concepts of sin and punishment lie at the very heart of theological discourse, shaping our understanding of morality, divine justice, and the human condition itself. Far from being mere archaic doctrines, these ideas continue to...
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 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...