Introduction and Syntopical Guide

by Robert Maynard Hutchins (Editor), Mortimer J. Adler (Editor), Clifton Fadiman (Associate editor)

Contents

A Letter to the Reader

INTRODUCTION
I. The Ways -and Whys- of Reading
II. The Imagination of Man
III. Man and Society
IV. Science and Mathematics
V. Philosophy
VI. The Endless Journey

SYNTOPICAL GUIDE

APPENDICES
I. A Plan of Graded Reading
II. Recommended Novels
III. Recommended Anthologies of Poetry

Genres: Classics, Reference, Education

372 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Robert Maynard Hutchins (LL.B., Yale Law School, 1925; B.A., Yale University, 1921) was an educational philosopher, dean of Yale Law School (1927-1929), and president (1929–1945) and chancellor (1945–1951) of the University of Chicago.

While he was president of the University of Chicago, Hutchins implemented wide-ranging and controversial reforms of the University, including the elimination of varsity football. The most far-reaching reforms involved the undergraduate College of the University of Chicago, which was retooled into a novel pedagogical system built on Great Books, Socratic dialogue, comprehensive examinations and early entrance to college. Although the substance of this Hutchins Plan was abandoned by the University shortly after Hutchins resigned in 1951, an adapted version of the program survives at Shimer College in Chicago.

Editor-in-Chief of Great Books of the Western World and Gateway to the Great Books; co-editor of The Great Ideas Today; Chairman of the Board of Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica (1943-1974).
He was the husband of novelist Maude Hutchins.

Reviews

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10.

It is intriguing that the once edifying "liberal education" has degenerated into a "Liberal education", i.e. an education in which one learns the dogmas of the religion of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equality (DIE). An education that was meant to free one's self out of slavery to public opinion and the senses has now transformed into (physically enforced) slavery to the dominant ideology. But the works of the past still remain, and we can revive them today. We can discuss the great works of the West with fellow minded people to not only capture the sparks of eminent minds, but also to appreciate the works of our forefathers.

The great books allow one to strive towards the Aristotelian ideal, just like any good Faustian should. The Aristotelian telos is the point at which Man becomes fully himself, the point at which he is fully realized and flourishing. It means to use your will to perfect one's self in all aspects of life, i.e. to become wholly virtuous. This includes improving your physical health, your dissociation from passion (Stoicism), your intellectual cultivation (knowledge), your procreational function as a biological creature (relationships), your courage/discipline, and your career prospects. Unlike the couch potato who happily vegetates when he comes home, the Faustian views free time as a chance to improve the self. It is this striving, this unyielding and adventurous spirit, that truly fulfills the higher purpose of man. Through this spirit men have sacrificed themselves to tigers for God, they have trekked through the coldest winters of the Arctic to reach the North Pole, and studied long enough to penetrate in the secrets of the universe (e.g. Spengler).

One specific aspect of the holistic striving is to gain an appreciation of the great works of writing which humans have produced. Reading the Great Books of the Western World is doubly important because reading them causes one to have a great reverence for your ancestors. Furthermore, it shows one that we moderns are not so great as we think we are; that, in fact, Plato, Dante, and Aquinas were leagues more intelligent than our modern generations. When this is realized, the delusional belief in continual progress is broken and a more fine artistic taste is gained.

I applaud classical education as opposed to one denigratory of one's heritage and based on the premise that the material world is all that matters. A wide knowledge, an exploration of what brings meaning in life, and an immersion in the best works of literature will do wonders for the intelligent person who is solely focused on their career. "Mass education" has not only brought education to the masses, but has also degraded it to their quality. It is time to revive an aristocratic education, an education meant for those of the finest stock. Though your average adolescent cannot appreciate Shakespeare, he who has the capability will gain much by reading him. Likewise with all of the distinguished authors of the West. If you are stuck in the muck of contemporary politics, of mass COVID fear, stop your worries. Enlarge your mind and recapture the wonderful works of the past. I assure you that you will thank yourself for doing so.

[Beauregard Bottomley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A syntopical guide is definitely not my thing, but an introduction from the first 100 pages of this volume that covers the most important 3 questions we all have and points us in the direction on our endless journey is well worth reading. BTW, the ‘3 questions’ are your questions and they can be any 3 questions you want. I form mine as 1) what can I know? 2) how should I behave (what is the good?), 3) what should I do with my finite time here on earth? (Or, how do I find my meaning for existing).

Even within the author’s well-structured introduction for determining our own meaning for what we can know, how we should behave, and how we should spend our finite time the author slips in with some of his time period’s beliefs in their own superiority based on nothing more than certainty in their own unearned pride.

According to the author, the communist just aren’t up to the task and the atheist believe there is no God and therefore must be incoherent. The 1960s would always say atheist say ‘there is no God’, while atheist really just say they have no evidence to believe there is a God, but would never ever say ‘there is no God’ as a declarative statement.

The background from the 1960s for the editor of this book is part of who he is and he can’t even shake them when he has a bigger story to tell such as how to find our meaning about our meaning from reading the great books and why they are really worth our time. After all, in his world the godless communist are fools in their hearts and are a threat to everything he holds dear.

[Cameron Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a great list of novels, anthologies, poetry, and various collected work that most people would consider the "essentials" of any readers. Other than that this is basically an introduction of some of the concepts you will be seeing throughout the rest of the volumes. The age of this book is also very telling but probably not something that will hinder a persons reading experience.

[Dave McCracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since 2005, I have dabbled in The Great Books of the Western World (GBWW), 2003 printing of Encylopedia Britannica's 60 volume set. A daunting set of the great works of western civilization. Mainly, I've entertained myself reading various volumes and books within, that satisfied my immediate curiosity. All the while, staring at my bookshelf urging myself to cross the start line to commit and read the entire 60 volume set. Where to begin, chronologically, syntopically, by subject category? How to tackle the enormity of the subjects, philosophy, science, mathematics, theology, poems, plays, politics, histories, imaginative literature, the breath is breathtaking.

To answer these questions a second set of books was created to answer my fundamental dilemma on how to read the GBWW. The Gateway to the Great Books (GGB) a whopping 10 volumes published in 1963 by Encyclopedia Britannica to guide readers of all levels with a variety of reading plans and styles.

Volume 1 "Introduction & Syntopical Guide" is both a roaring advocate of the GBWW and a compilation of essays, short stories, portions of works all either by authors of the GBWW or relative to the topics and line of inquiry. The GGB Introduction & Syntopical Guide lays out a deeply interconnected Syntopicon adding further depth to the GBWW with its many writings and references.

Having read this book, I find myself still not fully decided how I might proceed with my ambition to read completely both the GBWW & GGB. Possibly, this could be viewed as a failure of this book, or most likely my continued awestruck (deer in the headlights) status of the enormity of this reading journey. However, I must cross the start line, and therefore I will begin by reading GBWW Volume 1&2, "The Syntopicon and Index to the Great Ideas". These volumes introduce the 102 Great Ideas contained within the Great Conversation passed down thru the ages to the present. Reading the 102 Great Ideas will be something of an in-depth annotated table of contents approach that will possibly break through my muddled start to the GBWW and set a pathway to completion.

This decision is where the Gateway to the Great Books, Volume 1 Introduction & Syntopical Guide, succeeds. It has pointed a direction and motivated forward movement in my reading journey. As I progress thru Volume 1&2 GBWW, I will read the complimentary references & authors within the GGB 10 volumes. Bon Voyage.

[R.a. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gateway Introduction makes a case for embracing general knowledge (vs. technical or techne knowledge) by revealing an “ever changing / progressing” labor landscape.

Part of a set published in 1963, the first argument becomes interesting on two points:

a. With the specific citing of examples of technical / vocational “learning,” (“training” is, perhaps, a better term), the argument then fails, (given our current economy).

b. An irony emerges highlighting that the study of “liberal arts” subjects has taken on, now, the precise “uselessness” of an “outdated technical knowledge” as cited.

Yet, the overall argument here still holds—since the authors call for a desire “to know” as part of what it means to be human.

The “middle part” of the Intro breaks down and explains the organization of both the Gateway set of books as well as the Great Books set.

Finally, the last two-thirds of this volume is made up of the Gateway Syntopicon—a listing of each work in the set coupled to various topoi, (102), and subsequent references to other works in the whole set.

Consequently, the reader can “trace” authors, works, and theses based upon any respective topic.

In all honesty, the first third of the volume is a joy to read whereas the latter two-thirds becomes, frankly, a drudgery.

To have all the syntopicon volumes in a digital format with the works themselves rendered in traditional print format would be “the ideal” for this reader.

The syntopicon volumes allow for incisive supplemental reading for the reader as s/he approaches various ways to read. A strict topical reading could keep a reader in a circle of referential reading for years, literally.

For myself, I plan to use the syntopicons as “touchstones” as I progress sequentially—referring to the syntopicon essays with each reading.

Incidentally, despite our current economy, I still do agree with the editors’ view of a founded liberal arts.

One point brought up, either here or in the Introduction to the Great Books, is that of “owning” the book. The editors suggest that buying the book is simply a purchase. One “owns” a book when one has engaged with it in a meaningful way—a point that I now have embraced.

[Daniel Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone like myself who fell in love with reading to escape the harsh realities of life, the Gateway series makes it possible for modern readers to find an entry point to the elemental thinkers of Western civilisation.

[David Withun · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up this set of books at the Joshua Springs Thrift Store! Putting aside How to Read a Book in term 2 and now reading this one during morning time. In my opinion this one is so much better and is co-written by the same author. The kids will be reading through the 10 volumes as part of their free reads....krb January 2021

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade: 88% / 'B'

[Granny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of useful information on critical reading.