The original editors had three criteria for including a book in the series drawn from Western Civilization: the book must be relevant to contemporary matters, and not only important in its historical context; it must be rewarding to re-read repeatedly with respect to liberal education; and it must be a part of "the great conversation about the great ideas", relevant to at least 25 of the 102 "Great Ideas" as identified by the editor of the series's comprehensive index, the Syntopicon, to which they belonged. The books were chosen not on the basis of ethnic and cultural inclusiveness (historical influence being seen as sufficient for inclusion), nor on whether the editors agreed with the authors' views.[1]
A second edition was published in 1990, in 60 volumes. Some translations were updated; some works were removed; and there were additions from the 20th century, in six new volumes.
History
The project for the Great Books of the Western World began at the University of Chicago, where the president, Robert Hutchins, worked with Mortimer Adler to develop there a course of a type originated by John Erskine at Columbia University in 1921, with the innovation of a "round table" approach to reading and discussing great books among professors and undergraduates.[2]—generally aimed at businessmen. The purposes they had in mind were for filling the gaps in their liberal education (including Hutchins' own, self-confessed gaps) and to render the reader an intellectually rounded man or woman familiar with the Great Books of the Western canon and knowledgeable of the Great Ideas visited in the "Great Conversation" over the course of three millennia.
An original student of the project was William Benton, who at the time was the chief executive officer of the Encyclopædia Britannica publishing company and later was a United States senator. In 1943, he proposed selecting the greatest books of the Western canon, and that Hutchins and Adler produce unabridged editions for publication by Encyclopædia Britannica. Hutchins was wary at first, fearing that commodifying the books would devalue them as cultural artifacts; but he agreed to the business deal and was paid $60,000 for his work on the project. Benton at first refused the deal on the basis that the set of works selected would be just that, artifacts, never to be read.
By chance, Adler was re-reading a source he was using for a book he was writing at the time, How to Think about War and Peace. He noted to the person who had provided the book for him that he had missed the instructive passage that this person was pointing out to him and wondered why that had happened. They realized that Adler had read the book focusing on one idea about war and peace. Adler struck on the idea of making an index for the whole set for Hutchins, so that readers could have "random access" to the works, with the desired result that they would develop a greater interest in the works.[3]
Failure to come to terms
After deciding what subjects and authors to include, and how to present the materials, the indexing part of the project was begun, with a budget of another $60,000. Adler began compiling what his group called the "Greek index" bearing on the works selected from ancient Greece, expecting completion of the entire project within six months. After two years, the Greek index was declared to be a resounding failure. The inferior terms under the Great Ideas across the centuries in which the Greek-language works were written had shifted in their significance, and the preliminary index reflected that, the ideas presented not having "come to terms" with each other.[4]
During those times, Adler had a flash of insight. He set his group re-reading each work preliminarily with a single assigned subordinate idea in mind in the form of a fairly elaborate phrase. If any instances of the idea appeared, they could collate them with co-ordinate ideas of a similar type collected the same way, use the material thus noted to better re-frame the larger idea structure and then finally start re-reading the work in its entirety with revised phrasing to do the complete indexing, of ideas.[5]
Eventual popular success
In 1945, Adler began writing the initial forms of the essays for the Great Ideas and six years and $940,000 more later, on April 15, 1952, the Great Books of the Western World were presented at a publication party in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, in New York City. In his speech, Hutchins said, "This is more than a set of books, and more than a liberal education. Great Books of the Western World is an act of piety. Here are the sources of our being. Here is our heritage. This is the West. This is its meaning for mankind." The first two sets of books were given to Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom, and to Harry S. Truman, the incumbent U.S. President. Adler appeared on the cover of Time magazine for a story about the set of works and its idea index and inventory of Western topics of thought at large, of sorts.[6]
The initial sales of the book sets were poor, with only 1,863 sets sold in 1952, and less than one-tenth of that number of book sets were sold in 1953. A financial debacle loomed until Encyclopædia Britannica altered the sales strategy, and sold the book set through experienced door-to-door encyclopædia-salesmen, as Hutchins had feared; but, through that method, 50,000 sets were sold in 1961. In 1963 the editors published Gateway to the Great Books, a ten-volume set of readings meant to introduce the authors and the subjects of the Great Books. Each year, from 1961 to 1998, the editors published The Great Ideas Today, an annual updating about the applicability of the Great Books to contemporary life.[7][8] According to Alex Beam, Great Books of the Western World eventually sold a million sets.[9] The Internet and the E-book reader have made available some of the Great Books of the Western World in an on-line format.[10]
Volumes
Originally published in 54 volumes, The Great Books of the Western World covers categories including fiction, history, poetry, natural science, mathematics, philosophy, drama, politics, religion, economics, and ethics. Hutchins wrote the first volume, titled The Great Conversation, as an introduction and discourse on liberal education. Adler sponsored the next two volumes, "The Great Ideas: A Syntopicon", as a way of emphasizing the unity of the set and, by extension, of Western thought in general. A team of indexers spent months compiling references to such topics as "Man's freedom in relation to the will of God" and "The denial of void or vacuum in favor of a plenum". They grouped the topics into 102 chapters, for which Adler wrote the 102 introductions. Four colors identify each volume by subject area—Imaginative Literature, Mathematics and the Natural Sciences, History and Social Science, and Philosophy and Theology. The volumes contained the following works:
Summa Theologica (First part complete, selections from second part, translated by the Fathers of the English Dominican Province and revised by Daniel J. Sullivan)
Summa Theologica (Selections from second and third parts and supplement, translated by the Fathers of the English Dominican Province and revised by Daniel J. Sullivan)
The second edition of Great Books of the Western World, 1990, saw an increase from 54 to 60 volumes, with updated translations. The six new volumes concerned the 20th century, an era of which the first edition's sole representative was Freud. Some of the other volumes were re-arranged, with even more pre-20th century material added but with four texts deleted: Apollonius'On Conic Sections, Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy, Henry Fielding's Tom Jones, and Joseph Fourier's Analytical Theory of Heat. Adler later expressed regret about dropping On Conic Sections and Tom Jones. Adler also voiced disagreement with the addition of Voltaire's Candide, and said that the Syntopicon should have included references to the Koran. He addressed criticisms that the set was too heavily Western European and did not adequately represent women and minority authors.[11] Four women authors were included, where previously there were none.[12]
The added pre-20th century texts appear in these volumes (some of the accompanying content of these volumes differs from the first edition volume of that number):
The choice of authors has come under attack, with some dismissing the project as a celebration of European men, ignoring contributions of women and non-European authors.[13][14] The criticism swelled in tandem with the feminist and civil rights movements.[15] Similarly, in his Europe: A History, Norman Davies criticizes the compilation for overrepresenting selected parts of the western world, especially Britain and the U.S., while ignoring the other, particularly Central and Eastern Europe. According to his calculation, in 151 authors included in both editions, there are 49 English or American authors, 27 Frenchmen, 20 Germans, 15 ancient Greeks, 9 ancient Romans, 4 Russians, 4 Scandinavians, 3 Spaniards, 3 Italians, 3 Irishmen, 3 Scots, and 3 Eastern Europeans. Prejudices and preferences, he concludes, are self-evident.
In response, such criticisms have been derided as ad hominem and biased in themselves. The counter-argument maintains that such criticisms discount the importance of books solely because of generic, imprecise and possibly irrelevant characteristics of the books' authors, rather than because of the content of the books themselves.[16]
Works
Others thought that while the selected authors were worthy, too much emphasis was placed on the complete works of a single author rather than a wider selection of authors and representative works. For instance, two volumes each are reserved for Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, William Shakespeare and Edward Gibbon. The second edition of the set already contained 130 authors and 517 individual works. The editors point out that the guides to additional reading for each topic in the Syntopicon refer the interested reader to many more authors.[17]
Difficulty
The scientific and mathematical selections came under criticism for being incomprehensible to the average reader, especially with the absence of any sort of critical apparatus. The second edition did drop two scientific works, by Apollonius and Fourier, in part because of their perceived difficulty for the average reader. Nevertheless, the editors steadfastly maintain that average readers are capable of understanding far more than the critics deem possible. Robert Hutchins stated this view in the introduction to the first edition:
Because the great bulk of mankind have never had the chance to get a liberal education, it cannot be "proved" that they can get it. Neither can it be "proved" that they cannot. The statement of the ideal, however, is of value in indicating the direction that education should take.[18]
Rationale
Since the great majority of the works were still in print, one critic remarked that the company could have saved two million dollars and simply written a list. Dense formatting also did not help readability. Nonetheless, Encyclopædia Britannica's aggressive promotion produced solid sales.[19]
The second edition selected translations that were generally considered an improvement, though the cramped typography remained. Through reading plans and the Syntopicon, the editors attempted to guide readers through the set.[20]
Response to criticisms
The editors responded that the set contains wide-ranging debates representing many viewpoints on significant issues, not a monolithic school of thought. Mortimer Adler argued in the introduction to the second edition:
Presenting a wide variety and divergence of views or opinions, among which there is likely to be some truth but also much more error, the Syntopicon [and by extension the larger set itself] invites readers to think for themselves and make up their own minds on every topic under consideration.[21]
^Milton Meyer (1993). "Robert Maynard Hutchins: A Memoir". University of California Press. Retrieved 2007-05-30. This biography of Robert M. Hutchins contains an extensive discussion of the Great Books project.
^Mortimer Adler (September 1997). "Selecting works for the 1990 edition of Great Books of the Western World". Great Books Index. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-05-29. We did not base our selections on an author's nationality, religion, politics, or field of study; nor on an author's race or gender. Great books were not chosen to make up quotas of any kind; there was no "affirmative action" in the process.
^Robert M. Hutchins (1952). "Chapter VI: Education for All". The Great Conversation. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. p. 44.
^Macdonald, Dwight. "The Book-of-the-Millennium Club". 29 November 1952 with later appendix. The New Yorker. Retrieved 2007-05-29. I also wonder how many of the over 100,000 customers who have by now caved in under the pressure of Mr. Harden and his banner-bearing colleagues are doing much browsing in these upland pastures?
Curb CompanyNama dagangCurbJenisTerbatas publikIndustriTeknologi informasiTransportasiDidirikan1992Pendiri Amos Tamam Kantorpusat Amerika SerikatTokohkunci Amos Tamam (CEO) Vishal Dhawan Avi Itzhakov Jason Gross Valerie Chianuri PemilikCurb CompanySitus webgocurb.com Curb merupakan sebuah perusahaan teknologi asal Amerika Serikat yang melayani angkutan melalui jasa taksi online. Perusahaan ini didirikan oleh Amos Tamam tahun 1992 di kota Long Island, Amerika Serikat.[1][2]...
Biografi ini memerlukan lebih banyak catatan kaki untuk pemastian. Bantulah untuk menambahkan referensi atau sumber tepercaya. Materi kontroversial atau trivial yang sumbernya tidak memadai atau tidak bisa dipercaya harus segera dihapus, khususnya jika berpotensi memfitnah.Cari sumber: Indriyanto Seno Adji – berita · surat kabar · buku · cendekiawan · JSTOR (Juli 2021) (Pelajari cara dan kapan saatnya untuk menghapus pesan templat ini) Prof. Dr.Indriya...
Strada statale 483TermoleseLocalizzazioneStato Italia Regioni Molise Province Campobasso DatiClassificazioneStrada statale InizioPalata FineTermoli Lunghezza31,825[1] km Provvedimento di istituzioneD.M. 22/12/1964 - G.U. 48 del 24/02/1965[2] GestoreTratte ANAS: nessuna (dal 2001 la gestione è passata alla Provincia di Campobasso) Percorso Manuale La ex strada statale 483 Termolese (SS 483), ora strada provinciale 168 Termolese (SP 168)[3], è una strada...
Chronologies Tenue de ski de la maison de couture Vera Boréa présentée par le magazine Femina en octobre 1933.Données clés 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936Décennies :1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960Siècles :XVIIIe XIXe XXe XXIe XXIIeMillénaires :-Ier Ier IIe IIIe Chronologies géographiques Afrique Afrique du Sud, Algérie, Angola, Bénin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroun, Cap-Vert, République centrafricaine...
LugaSungai Luga di dekat kota KingiseppPeta cekungan LugaLokasiNegaraRusiaCiri-ciri fisikMuara sungaiTeluk Finlandia - koordinat59°40′38″N 28°18′41″E / 59.67722°N 28.31139°E / 59.67722; 28.31139Koordinat: 59°40′38″N 28°18′41″E / 59.67722°N 28.31139°E / 59.67722; 28.31139Panjang353 km (219 mi)[1]Debit air - rata-ratakira-kira 100 m3/s (3.500 cu ft/s) Daerah Aliran ...
Halaman ini berisi artikel tentang Partai Rakyat Jerman yang berdiri antara 1918 dan 1933. Untuk partai lain bernama sama, lihat Partai Rakyat Jerman (disambiguasi). Partai Rakyat Jerman Deutsche VolksparteiKetua umumGustav StresemannDibentuk15 Desember 1918 (1918-12-15)Dibubarkan4 Juli 1933 (1933-7-4)Didahului olehPartai Liberal NasionalKantor pusatBerlinKeanggotaan (1920)800,000[1]IdeologiLiberalisme nasional[2][3][4]Nasionalisme sipil[5 ...
1758 peace agreement between British colonists and various Native American nations Iroquois pipe tomahawk, said to be from the Easton peace talks The Treaty of Easton was a colonial agreement in North America signed in October 1758 during the French and Indian War (Seven Years' War) between British colonials and the chiefs of 13 Native American nations, representing tribes of the Iroquois, Lenape (Delaware), and Shawnee. Negotiations over more than a week were concluded on October 26, 1758, a...
1796 battle during the War of the First Coalition Battle of LonatoPart of the Italian campaigns in the War of the First CoalitionGeneral Bonaparte at the battle of LonatoDate3–4 August 1796LocationLonato del Garda, present-day Italy45°27′40″N 10°29′04″E / 45.46111°N 10.48444°E / 45.46111; 10.48444Result French victoryBelligerents France AustriaCommanders and leaders Napoleon Bonaparte André Masséna Peter Quasdanovich Dagobert von WurmserStrength 20,000 ...
Municipality in Lapland, FinlandKittilä GihttelKittâlKihttelMunicipalityKittilän kuntaKommunen KittiläView from the top of Kätkätunturi Coat of armsLocation of Kittilä in FinlandCoordinates: 67°39′N 024°54.5′E / 67.650°N 24.9083°E / 67.650; 24.9083Country FinlandRegionLaplandSub-regionFell LaplandCharter1854Government • Municipality managerAntti JämsénArea (2018-01-01)[1] • Total8,262.97 km2 (3,190.35...
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. Please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view. (November 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message)The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's no...
Species of edible plant For the musical instrument sometimes called a sweet potato, see Ocarina. For the true yam, see yam (vegetable). Sweet potato Sweet potato tubers Conservation status Secure (NatureServe)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Asterids Order: Solanales Family: Convolvulaceae Genus: Ipomoea Species: I. batatas Binomial name Ipomoea batatas(L.) Lam. The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) i...
Сельское поселение России (МО 2-го уровня)Новотитаровское сельское поселение Флаг[d] Герб 45°14′09″ с. ш. 38°58′16″ в. д.HGЯO Страна Россия Субъект РФ Краснодарский край Район Динской Включает 4 населённых пункта Адм. центр Новотитаровская Глава сельского пос�...
Северный морской котик Самец Научная классификация Домен:ЭукариотыЦарство:ЖивотныеПодцарство:ЭуметазоиБез ранга:Двусторонне-симметричныеБез ранга:ВторичноротыеТип:ХордовыеПодтип:ПозвоночныеИнфратип:ЧелюстноротыеНадкласс:ЧетвероногиеКлада:АмниотыКлада:Синапси...
وَيْبَاك مَشِينالشعارمعلومات عامةموقع الويب web.archive.org (الإنجليزية) نوع الموقع أرشيف الويب البلد الأصلي الولايات المتحدة التأسيس 29 أكتوبر 2001[1] الجوانب التقنيةاللغة الإنجليزية لغة البرمجة سي — بيرل — جافا — بايثون ترتيب أليكسا 205[2](5 فبراير 2021) أهم الشخصياتالما�...
Questa voce sull'argomento atleti francesi è solo un abbozzo. Contribuisci a migliorarla secondo le convenzioni di Wikipedia. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. David Sombé Nazionalità Francia Atletica leggera Specialità velocità Società Asptt Lille Metropole Record 200 m 2223 (2022) 400 m 4532 (2023) 400 m 4683 (indoor - 2023) 800 m 1'5840 (2019) 4×400 m 2'5845 (2023) CarrieraSocietà 2006- Asptt Lille MetropoleNazionale FranciaPalmarès Competizione Ori Arg...
See also: List of census-designated places in Washington and List of unincorporated communities in Washington Map of the United States with Washington highlighted Washington is a state located in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. As of the 2020 U.S. census, Washington is the 13th most populous state, with 7,705,281 inhabitants, and the 18th largest by land area, spanning 66,455.52 square miles (172,119.0 km2) of land. Washington is divided into 39 counties and contains ...
Work class remotely operated underwater vehicle U.S. Navy Super Scorpio ROV The Scorpio (Submersible Craft for Ocean Repair, Position, Inspection and Observation) is a brand of underwater submersible Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) manufactured by Perry Tritech used by sub-sea industries such as the oil industry for general operations, and by the Royal Navy and the United States Navy for submarine rescue services. Originally developed by AMETEK Straza of El Cajon, United States, they were sub...
Pour les articles homonymes, voir CBR. Logo de Comic Book Resources Adresse cbr.com Type de site Webzine sur les comics Langue Anglais Siège social Saint-Laurent, Montréal[1] Canada Propriétaire Boiling Point Productions Créé par Jonah Weiland Lancement 1995 État actuel En ligne modifier Comic Book Resources, aussi connu sous le nom CBR, est un webzine canadien consacré aux comic books. Fondé par Jonah Weiland en 1996, le site web fournit des actualités, chroniques, critiques,...
