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 Measured Life: Embracing the Virtue of Temperance over Pleasure In a world often seduced by the siren call of instant gratification and boundless indulgence, the ancient virtue of temperance stands as a beacon of profound wisdom. Far from a call to asceticism or joyless self-denial, temperance—or sophrosyne as...
The Ethical Duty of Temperance: A Path to Flourishing Summary: In an age often characterized by excess and instant gratification, the ancient concept of temperance stands as a profound ethical duty and a foundational virtue essential for individual well-being and a stable society. Drawing deeply from the wisdom enshrined in...
The Enduring Idea of Temperance in Politics Summary: The idea of temperance, far from being merely a personal virtue, holds profound significance for the realm of government and political life. Rooted in ancient philosophy, temperance in politics signifies a commitment to moderation, self-restraint, and balanced judgment in leadership and governance....
The Virtue of Temperance: Mastering Desire with Grace In a world often driven by immediate gratification, the ancient virtue of temperance offers a profound counter-narrative, standing as a beacon for a well-ordered and flourishing life. This article explores temperance not as mere abstinence, but as the wise and rational regulation...
The Virtue of Temperance and Health: A Path to Flourishing Temperance, often overshadowed by its more dramatic counterparts like courage or justice, stands as a foundational virtue, quietly orchestrating a harmonious existence. At its core, temperance is the virtue of moderation, self-control, and prudence in the face of desire and...
The Measured Hand: Why Temperance is the Cornerstone of Political Leadership In the tumultuous arena of public service, where power can corrupt and ambition can blind, the ancient virtue of temperance stands as an indispensable bulwark. This article explores why a measured approach, rooted in self-control and rational judgment, is...
The Ethics of Temperance and Desire: A Path to Flourishing Summary: In an age of instant gratification, the ancient virtues of temperance and the ethical management of desire offer profound insights into living a fulfilling life. Far from mere abstinence, temperance, as explored by the great philosophers, is the intelligent...
The Guiding Hand: How Prudence Perfects Temperance Summary: Prudence, often called practical wisdom, is not merely another virtue but the indispensable architect and guide for all others, especially temperance. It is the intellectual virtue that discerns the appropriate means to achieve a good end, transforming raw self-control into a truly...
The Virtue of Temperance in Wealth Management: A Path to Flourishing Summary: In an age often defined by financial excess and the relentless pursuit of more, this exploration delves into the timeless virtue of temperance as an indispensable guide for navigating the complexities of wealth management. Drawing from the wisdom...
The Measured Life: Embracing Temperance in a World of Desire In an age often characterized by instant gratification and the relentless pursuit of pleasure, the ancient virtue of temperance might seem an anachronism. Yet, a deeper dive into the wisdom of the Great Books of the Western World reveals that...
The Measured Soul: Reclaiming the Ethical Duty of Temperance A Foundation of Flourishing: The Ethical Imperative of Self-Mastery In an age often defined by excess and instant gratification, the ancient concept of temperance stands as a beacon of enduring wisdom, an ethical duty rather than a mere personal preference. This...
The Idea of Temperance in Politics: A Timeless Virtue for Good Government Summary: The Enduring Relevance of Political Temperance In an age often characterized by extremes and fervent partisanship, the idea of temperance in politics might seem quaint, yet it remains a fundamental virtue for stable and just government. Far...
Mastering the Inner Realm: The Enduring Virtue of Temperance Over Desire This article explores temperance not merely as abstinence, but as a profound virtue – a harmonious balance achieved through the rational management of our desires by the will. Drawing from the wisdom of the Great Books of the Western World,...
The Measured Life: Temperance, Health, and the Flourishing Body Summary: Temperance as the Foundation of Well-being This article explores the classical virtue of temperance, not merely as an antiquated moral concept, but as a foundational principle for holistic health and well-being. Drawing from the wisdom of the Great Books of...
The Virtue of Temperance in Political Leadership In the complex theatre of modern governance, where the stakes are perpetually high and the pressures immense, the ancient virtue of temperance often goes unsung, yet it remains perhaps the most critical attribute for effective and ethical political leadership. This article posits that...
The Delicacy of Balance: Navigating the Ethics of Temperance and Desire Summary: This article explores the intricate ethical relationship between temperance and desire, drawing insights from the "Great Books of the Western World." We'll delve into how ancient philosophers understood temperance not merely as abstinence, but...
The Guiding Hand: How Prudence Perfects Temperance Summary: Prudence, often called practical wisdom, is not merely a companion to temperance but its indispensable guide. While temperance aims to moderate our desires and pleasures, it is prudence that discerns the right measure, the appropriate time, and the proper context for such...
The Balanced Pursuit: Cultivating Temperance in Wealth Management The pursuit of wealth is a fundamental aspect of human society, often intertwined with aspirations for security, freedom, and comfort. Yet, history and philosophy teach us that the mere accumulation of riches is insufficient for a flourishing life. True well-being, both personal...
The Virtue of Temperance: A Path Beyond Unfettered Pleasure In a world increasingly driven by the pursuit of immediate gratification, the ancient virtue of temperance often feels like a forgotten concept. Yet, as the great thinkers of Western philosophy have consistently shown, it is precisely this quality—the intelligent mastery...
The Ethical Duty of Temperance: A Path to Human Flourishing Temperance, often misconstrued as mere abstinence or severe self-denial, is in fact a profound ethical duty and a cornerstone virtue essential for human flourishing and rational living. Far from merely restricting pleasure, temperance represents the intelligent governance of our appetites...
The Idea of Temperance in Politics: A Path to Prudent Governance Introduction: The Quiet Strength of Political Temperance In an age often defined by extremes and fervent partisanship, the idea of temperance in politics might seem quaint, perhaps even anachronistic. Yet, as we delve into the rich tapestry of the...
The Measured Soul: Embracing the Virtue of Temperance Over Unbridled Desire Summary: In a world often driven by immediate gratification, the ancient virtue of temperance offers a profound path to self-mastery and a well-ordered life. Far from mere abstinence, temperance is the rational governance of our appetites and desires, allowing...
The Virtue of Temperance and Health: An Ancient Prescription for the Modern Body In an age often characterized by extremes, the classical virtue of temperance offers a profound and surprisingly practical guide to living a flourishing life, particularly concerning our physical and mental health. Far from being a mere ascetic...
The Virtue of Temperance in Political Leadership In the complex theatre of government and public service, the pursuit of virtue often feels like a distant ideal, overshadowed by the immediate demands of power and policy. Yet, drawing from the profound wisdom contained within the Great Books of the Western World,...
The Ethics of Temperance and Desire: Navigating the Inner Landscape Summary: The human experience is a constant interplay between our desires and our capacity for self-control. This article delves into the profound ethical dimensions of temperance and desire, exploring how ancient philosophers, particularly those found in the Great Books of...
The Guiding Hand: Prudence as the Architect of Temperance Summary In the realm of classical philosophy, Prudence (phronesis) stands as the intellectual Virtue that guides all others, particularly Temperance. This article explores how Prudence, often described as practical Wisdom, is not merely an auxiliary but an indispensable prerequisite for true...
The Balanced Pursuit: Cultivating Temperance in Wealth Management In an age often defined by ceaseless accumulation and the relentless pursuit of more, the ancient virtue of temperance offers a profound and necessary counter-narrative, particularly when applied to the complex domain of wealth management. This pillar page explores how temperance, far...
The Virtue of Temperance: Mastering Desire for a Flourishing Life Summary: In a world increasingly driven by immediate gratification, the ancient virtue of temperance offers a profound counter-narrative. Far from being a rigid denial of life's joys, temperance is the rational mastery of our desires, allowing us to...
The Ethical Duty of Temperance: A Path to Flourishing Summary: Reclaiming a Forgotten Imperative In an age often characterized by excess and instant gratification, the ancient concept of temperance stands as a profound, yet often overlooked, ethical duty. Far from mere moderation, temperance is the virtue of rational self-mastery, the...
The Idea of Temperance in Politics: A Foundational Virtue for Good Government The concept of temperance extends far beyond individual self-control; it is a fundamental idea that underpins stable and just government. In an age often characterized by extremes, understanding temperance as a political virtue – a balanced restraint in the...
The Virtue of Temperance over Desire: A Path to Inner Harmony Summary: Embracing Self-Mastery for a Flourishing Life In an age often characterized by instant gratification and endless pursuit of pleasure, the ancient virtue of temperance offers a profound counter-narrative. Drawing deeply from the wisdom enshrined in the Great Books...
The Virtue of Temperance and Health: A Timeless Prescription for Well-being In an age often characterized by excess and instant gratification, the ancient Virtue of Temperance offers a profound, yet often overlooked, path to holistic well-being. This article explores how temperance, understood not as mere abstinence but as a balanced...
The Measured Hand: The Virtue of Temperance in Political Leadership In an age often characterized by extremes and fervent partisanship, the classical virtue of temperance stands as a beacon of stability and wisdom, particularly within the demanding sphere of government. This article argues that temperance, far from being mere moderation,...
The Guiding Hand: How Prudence Shapes Temperance A Benjamin Richmond Reflection on Virtue Summary: In the intricate tapestry of classical virtues, Prudence stands as the indispensable intellectual virtue that directs and perfects Temperance. Without the practical wisdom of prudence, temperance risks devolving into either rigid asceticism or reckless indulgence. This...