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 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 Theological Problem of Evil: Confronting the Reality of Sin The existence of evil in a world purportedly created and sustained by an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good God poses one of the most enduring and profound challenges to theology and philosophy. While the broader "Problem of Evil" encompasses...
The Labyrinth of Error: Unpacking the Cause of Sin and Moral Transgression Summary: This article delves into the profound philosophical question of the cause of sin and moral error, drawing insights from the Great Books of the Western World. We explore how thinkers from Plato to Kant grappled with the...
The Concept of Good and Evil in Moral Systems The concepts of Good and Evil stand as the bedrock of moral philosophy, shaping our understanding of human action, responsibility, and the very fabric of society. This article delves into how various moral systems, from ancient virtue ethics to modern deontological...
The Concept of Sin and Moral Judgment: A Philosophical Journey The concepts of sin and moral judgment stand as pillars in the edifice of human thought, profoundly shaping our understanding of good and evil, responsibility, and the very fabric of society. This exploration delves beyond purely religious interpretations to examine...
The Enduring Problem of Sin and Will: A Philosophical Inquiry The human condition is perpetually entangled in a profound paradox: endowed with the capacity for rational thought and free choice, why do we so often choose paths that lead to suffering, both for ourselves and others? This is the heart...
Navigating the Moral Compass: The Enduring Distinction Between Good and Evil The human experience is inextricably linked to the quest for meaning, purpose, and, perhaps most profoundly, a moral compass. At the heart of this quest lies the fundamental distinction between Good and Evil. This article explores the philosophical and...
The Primal Divide: Unpacking the Distinction Between Good and Evil The human experience is perpetually framed by an inescapable duality: the concepts of good and evil. From ancient myths to modern ethics, our quest to understand, define, and navigate these opposing forces shapes our moral compass, legal systems, and individual...
The Intricate Dance: Unpacking the Connection Between Sin and Desire The human experience is a tapestry woven with threads of aspiration and temptation, virtue and vice. At the heart of many philosophical and theological inquiries lies a profound and often unsettling connection: the relationship between sin and desire. This article...
The Labyrinth of Deceit: Navigating the Ethical Dilemma of Lying (Truth and Sin) The act of lying, at its core, represents a deliberate departure from truth. It is a pervasive human behavior, yet one that has vexed philosophers and theologians for millennia, sparking profound debates about duty, sin, and the...
The Weight of Transgression: Unpacking the Theological Concept of Sin and Punishment The concepts of sin and punishment are foundational to many theological traditions, forming the bedrock upon which much of our understanding of morality, accountability, and divine order rests. From ancient texts to contemporary debates, humanity has grappled with...
The Enduring Conundrum: The Problem of Evil (Sin) in the World A Fundamental Challenge to Our Understanding of Existence Summary: The problem of evil, often articulated as the "Problem of Sin" when focusing on human moral failings, stands as one of philosophy's most profound and persistent...
The human condition is often characterized by an internal struggle, a perpetual tension between what we want and what we ought to do. This struggle lies at the heart of "The Problem of Sin and Desire," a profound philosophical and theological inquiry that has captivated thinkers across millennia....
The Theological Problem of Evil (Sin): A Planksip Exploration The existence of evil in a world purportedly created and sustained by an all-powerful (omnipotent) and all-good (omnibenevolent) God presents one of philosophy's most enduring and vexing challenges. This isn't merely an abstract intellectual exercise; it strikes...
The Labyrinth of Error: Unpacking the Cause of Sin and Moral Transgression A perennial challenge to human understanding, the cause of sin and moral error lies at the very heart of philosophical inquiry. From ancient Greek notions of ignorance to the Christian concept of a disordered will and Kant'...
Desire's Shadow: The Ancient Roots of Sin At the heart of human experience lies desire, a potent force that propels us towards action, creation, and connection. Yet, throughout the grand tapestry of Western thought, this very force has been identified as the fundamental cause of sin. From the...
The Enduring Dance: Unpacking Good and Evil in Moral Systems Navigating the Labyrinth of Right and Wrong The concepts of Good and Evil are not mere abstract ideas; they are the very bedrock upon which all moral systems are built, shaping our laws, our societies, and our individual consciences. From...
The Labyrinth of Conscience: Exploring Sin and Moral Judgment The concepts of sin and moral judgment lie at the very heart of human experience, shaping our understanding of right and wrong, guiding our actions, and defining our relationship with the divine, society, and ourselves. From ancient philosophical inquiries into Good...
The Indelible Stain: Examining the Ethics of Slavery and Human Labor Summary: The history of human civilization is inextricably linked with the concepts of slavery and labor, often blurring the lines between necessity, exploitation, and profound ethical transgression. This article delves into the philosophical arguments, historical justifications, and eventual moral...
The Labyrinth of Choice: Unraveling the Problem of Sin and Will Summary The problem of sin and will stands as one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing challenges, probing the very core of human freedom, moral responsibility, and the nature of good and evil. From ancient Greek inquiries...
The Enduring Chasm: Navigating the Distinction Between Good and Evil The human experience is perpetually shadowed by the profound and often perplexing concepts of good and evil. From the earliest myths to the most intricate philosophical treatises, humanity has grappled with the distinction between these two fundamental forces, seeking to...
The Unbreakable Chain: Exploring the Connection Between Sin and Desire The intricate relationship between sin and desire has captivated philosophers and theologians for millennia, forming a cornerstone of ethical and moral inquiry within the Great Books of the Western World. At its core, this connection reveals how the pull of...
The Ethical Dilemma of Lying: Navigating Truth and Sin The act of lying, seemingly simple, unravels into one of philosophy's most enduring and complex ethical dilemmas. From ancient Greek dialogues to modern moral quandaries, humanity has grappled with the implications of departing from Truth. This pillar page delves...
The Weight of Transgression: Unpacking Sin and Divine Justice The theological concepts of sin and punishment stand as foundational pillars in understanding humanity's relationship with the divine, shaping moral frameworks and societal norms across millennia. At its core, theology defines sin not merely as a wrongdoing, but as...
The Perplexing Quandary: Grappling with the Problem of Evil (Sin) in Our World From the earliest stirrings of human consciousness, the presence of suffering, injustice, and moral transgression has posed a profound problem for those who contemplate the nature of reality. How can a benevolent, omnipotent deity permit, or even...
The Human Predicament: Sin, Desire, and the Quest for Good The intricate relationship between sin and desire forms one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing problems. From the earliest human reflections on morality to the complex ethical systems of today, thinkers have grappled with how our inner appetites...
The Enduring Conundrum: Navigating the Problem of Good and Evil in the World The existence of both profound good and unspeakable evil in our world presents one of humanity's oldest and most persistent philosophical challenges. From ancient mythologies to modern ethical debates, thinkers have grappled with understanding their...
The Theological Problem of Evil: Confronting Sin in a Divine Order The existence of evil in a world purportedly created and sustained by an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent God presents one of the most enduring and profound challenges to theology. This paradox, often termed the Problem of Evil, intensifies when...
The Labyrinth of Wrongdoing: Unpacking the Cause of Sin and Moral Error The question of why we err, why we choose paths that lead to suffering, injustice, or a breach of our own moral compass, stands as one of philosophy's most enduring and vexing inquiries. This article delves...
Desire: The Enduring Cause of Sin in Western Thought From the ancient Greeks to the medieval scholastics, Western philosophy has grappled with the perplexing origin of moral transgression. This article explores the profound concept that desire, when disordered or misdirected, stands as the primary cause of sin. Drawing upon the...
The Enduring Dichotomy: Navigating Good and Evil in Moral Systems The concepts of Good and Evil form the bedrock of almost every moral system humanity has ever devised. From ancient philosophical inquiries into human flourishing to theological doctrines outlining divine will, and modern ethical frameworks grappling with individual duty and...
The Concept of Sin and Moral Judgment: A Philosophical Odyssey The notions of sin and judgment permeate human experience, shaping our ethical frameworks, legal systems, and personal consciences. Far from being mere theological constructs, they represent fundamental attempts to grapple with the nature of good and evil, the boundaries of...
The Unbearable Weight: Unpacking the Ethics of Slavery and Human Labor Summary: The institution of slavery, the forced subjugation of one human being by another for labor, stands as one of history's most profound moral failures. This article delves into the ethical underpinnings of slavery, examining how philosophical...
The Enduring Conundrum of Sin and Will: A Philosophical Inquiry The human condition is perpetually entangled in a profound philosophical knot: the Problem of Sin and Will. This intricate dilemma probes the very essence of human agency, moral responsibility, and the nature of Good and Evil. If we possess free...