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 Quandary: Unpacking the Ethics of Slavery and Human Labor The history of humanity is, in many respects, a history of labor. From the earliest civilizations to our interconnected global economy, how societies organize work, and critically, how they treat the individuals performing it, stands as a profound testament...
The Enduring Conundrum: Navigating the Problem of Sin and Will The human condition, a tapestry woven with threads of choice and consequence, is perhaps nowhere more poignantly illustrated than in the ancient yet ever-present problem of sin and the mysterious faculty we call will. From the earliest philosophical inquiries to...
A Philosophical Inquiry: The Enduring Distinction Between Good and Evil The human condition is perpetually engaged in a profound struggle to comprehend, define, and navigate the concepts of good and evil. Far from being mere abstract notions, these fundamental categories shape our ethics, laws, societies, and personal moral compasses. This...
The Indissoluble Connection: Sin, Desire, and the Crucible of Will The human experience is a tapestry woven with threads of longing, ambition, and instinct. From the earliest philosophical inquiries to the present day, thinkers have grappled with the profound connection between our inner urges—our desires—and the moral transgressions...
The Ethical Dilemma of Lying: Navigating Truth and Sin in the Human Experience The Perennial Paradox of Deception: A Summary The act of lying, at first glance, seems unequivocally wrong. Yet, throughout human history and across diverse cultures, the ethical waters surrounding deception have remained stubbornly murky. From the "...
The Weight of Transgression: Exploring Sin and Punishment in Theology The theological concepts of sin and punishment stand as foundational pillars in understanding humanity's relationship with the divine. Far from being mere abstract notions, they represent profound attempts to grapple with moral responsibility, divine justice, and the very...
The Enduring Quandary: Navigating the Problem of Evil (Sin) in Our World The Problem of Evil stands as one of philosophy’s most profound and persistent challenges, questioning how an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent God can coexist with the pervasive suffering and moral wrongdoing—the very Sin—that characterizes our...
The Problem of Sin and Desire: A Perennial Philosophical Conundrum Summary: The relationship between sin and desire stands as a foundational problem in Western thought, explored extensively throughout the Great Books of the Western World. This article delves into how human desire, a fundamental aspect of our being, can lead...
The Enduring Conundrum: Unpacking the Problem of Good and Evil in the World The existence of good and evil is perhaps the most profound and persistent problem that has haunted human consciousness throughout history. From ancient myths to modern philosophical treatises, humanity has grappled with the stark dichotomy of light...
The Theological Problem of Evil (Sin): Reconciling Divine Goodness with Human Transgression The existence of suffering and moral wrongdoing in a world supposedly created and governed by an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good God presents one of the most enduring and profound challenges in Theology and philosophy alike. This is the...
The Labyrinth of Error: Unpacking the Cause of Sin and Moral Transgression A Philosophical Inquiry into Human Failing Summary: The question of what causes sin and moral error has plagued philosophers for millennia, from the ancient Greeks to modern ethicists. This article explores the diverse perspectives offered by the Great...
Desire as the Cause of Sin: An Examination of the Human Condition Summary: From the earliest philosophical inquiries into human nature, the assertion that desire serves as a fundamental cause of sin has echoed through the ages. This article explores how our inherent appetites, when unchecked by reason or a...
Navigating the Moral Compass: The Enduring Concepts of Good and Evil Summary The concepts of Good and Evil form the bedrock of all moral systems, yet their definitions and implications have been subjects of relentless philosophical inquiry for millennia. This article explores how different traditions, drawing from the wellspring of...
The Concept of Sin and Moral Judgment: An Enduring Philosophical Inquiry Summary: Navigating the Moral Labyrinth The concepts of sin and moral judgment stand as towering pillars in the landscape of human thought, profoundly shaping our understanding of right and wrong, responsibility, and the very nature of existence. From the...
The Ethics of Slavery and Human Labor: A Philosophical Scrutiny The institution of slavery, in its myriad forms, represents one of humanity's most profound and enduring ethical dilemmas. From ancient chattel slavery to modern-day human trafficking and exploitative labor practices, the question of one person's right...
The Enduring Problem of Sin and Will: A Philosophical Inquiry The human condition, from the earliest myths to the most intricate philosophical treatises, has grappled with an inescapable dilemma: the Problem of Sin and Will. Why do we, as seemingly rational beings, so often choose to act against our better...
The Enduring Enigma: Unpacking the Distinction Between Good and Evil The human experience, in its profoundest depths, is perpetually framed by the fundamental distinction between good and evil. It is a dichotomy that permeates our narratives, shapes our laws, and defines our personal moral compasses. From the earliest philosophical inquiries...
The Intricate Dance: The Connection Between Sin and Desire The profound connection between sin and desire stands as a cornerstone of Western philosophical and theological inquiry, meticulously explored within the canon of the Great Books of the Western World. Far from a simplistic moral equation, this relationship reveals the complex...
The Ethical Dilemma of Lying: Navigating Truth and Sin The act of lying, from a seemingly innocuous "white lie" to a profound deception, presents one of humanity's most enduring ethical quandaries. It forces us to confront the very nature of truth, the boundaries of sin, and...
The Weight of Transgression: Exploring the Theological Concept of Sin and Punishment The human experience is inextricably linked to the concepts of right and wrong, and perhaps none are as profoundly impactful or historically contentious as the theological notions of sin and punishment. This article delves into the intricate relationship...
The Enduring Enigma: Confronting the Problem of Evil (Sin) in Our World The Problem of Evil, often intertwined with the concept of Sin, stands as one of philosophy's most profound and persistent challenges. At its core, it questions how a benevolent, omnipotent, and omniscient God can coexist with...
The Enduring Quandary: Navigating the Problem of Sin and Desire The human condition is perpetually caught in the intricate dance between our deepest desires and the moral boundaries we erect, leading to what philosophers have long grappled with as "The Problem of Sin and Desire." This fundamental tension...
The Enduring Enigma: Confronting the Problem of Good and Evil in Our World Summary: The problem of good and evil is one of humanity's most persistent and perplexing philosophical challenges. It asks why suffering and malevolence exist if there is also inherent goodness, or how we define and...
The Theological Problem of Evil (Sin): An Enduring Dilemma for Faith The existence of suffering, injustice, and moral depravity in a world purportedly created and governed by an all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfectly good God presents one of the most profound and persistent challenges to religious belief. This is the heart...
The Labyrinth of Error: Unpacking the Cause of Sin and Moral Transgression The question of why we err, why we commit sin or fall into moral error, is one of philosophy's most enduring and perplexing inquiries. From the ancient Greeks to the Enlightenment thinkers, humanity has grappled with...
Desire as the Architect of Sin: An Inquiry into the Human Condition Summary: This article delves into the profound philosophical question of desire's role as the fundamental cause of sin within the Western intellectual tradition, drawing heavily from the Great Books of the Western World. We explore how...
Navigating the Moral Compass: The Enduring Enigma of Good and Evil A Fundamental Quest in Human Understanding The concepts of Good and Evil stand as the bedrock of nearly every moral system, yet their definitions remain a perpetually fascinating and often contentious area of philosophical inquiry. From the ancient Greeks...
The Labyrinth of Conscience: Exploring Sin and Moral Judgment Summary: The concepts of sin and moral judgment are foundational pillars of human civilization, deeply embedded in our philosophical, religious, and ethical frameworks. This pillar page delves into the historical evolution and diverse interpretations of sin, from ancient transgressions against divine...
The Enduring Shadow: An Ethical Examination of Slavery and Human Labor The question of slavery and the ethics surrounding human labor stands as one of the most profound and unsettling inquiries in the history of human thought. From the earliest philosophical texts to contemporary debates, societies have grappled with defining...
The Enduring Chasm: Navigating the Distinction Between Good and Evil The distinction between good and evil stands as one of humanity's most persistent and profound philosophical challenges. From the earliest human societies to our complex modern world, thinkers have wrestled with the definition of these fundamental moral categories,...
The Unseen Threads: Connecting Sin and Desire A Primal Connection: Unpacking Sin and Desire The human experience is a perpetual dance between what we want and what we ought to do. At the heart of this intricate choreography lies a profound and often challenging connection between sin and desire. This...
The Ethical Labyrinth of Lying: Navigating Truth, Sin, and Our Moral Compass Lying, in its myriad forms, is a pervasive aspect of human experience. From the seemingly innocuous "white lie" to the most heinous deception, the act of misrepresenting reality confronts us with profound ethical questions. This pillar...
The Divine Reckoning: Exploring the Theological Concept of Sin and Punishment From the earliest scrolls of religious thought to the sprawling philosophical treatises of the Enlightenment, humanity has grappled with the profound implications of our moral transgressions. The theological concept of sin is not merely a misstep; it is, at...
The Enduring Problem of Evil (Sin) in the World: A Philosophical Inquiry The existence of suffering, injustice, and moral transgression in a world purportedly created by an omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient deity presents one of philosophy's most profound and persistent challenges: The Problem of Evil. This dilemma, which...