«A deeper unity exists in the relation of all the books to one tradition, a unity shown by the continuity of the discussion of common themes and problems. It is claimed for this set of great books that all the works in it are significantly related to one anodier and that, taken together, they adequately present the ideas and issues, the terms and topics, that have made the western tradition what it is. More than a collection of books, then, this set is a certain kind of whole that can and should be read as such.» p. xi
«The aim of this “syntopical reading” was to discover the unity and continuity of western thought in the discussion of common themes and problems from one end of the tradition to the other. The Syntopicon does not reproduce or present the results of this reading in a digest to save others the trouble of reading the great books for themselves. On the contrary, it only lays down the lines along which a syntopical reading of the great books can be done, and shows why and how it should be done.» p. xi
«This great converstion across the ages is a living organism whose structure the Syntopicon tries to articulate. It tries to show the many strands of this conversation between the greatest minds of western civilization on the themes which have concerned men in every epoch, and which cover the whole range of man’s speculative inquiries and practical interests. To the extent that it succeeds, it reveals the unity and continuity of the western tradition.» p. xii
«By serving as a guide to the syntopical reading of die great books, it does more than transform them from a mere collection of books into a unified whole; it transforms them into a new kind of encyclopaedic whole— a new kind of reference library. Without in any way interfering with all the values the great books have as books to be read individually, the Syntopicon givesthem idle further utility of a unified reference library in the realm of thought and opinion» p. xii f.
«The Syntopicon is both a book to be read and a reference book.» p. xviii
«The user of the Syntopicon may have a broader interest than can be expressed in a particular topic» p.xix
«The division of the Syntopicon into 102 chapters may give rise to the notion that its editors think there are only 102 ideas worth discussing. The number of really great, that is, primary or pivotal ideas may be smaller or larger than 102. That number represents an editorial judgment which was made in the course of constructing the Syntopicon. H ow it was reached is explained elsewhere (see Appendix II, Section I) ; but here it should be said that it does not represent a judgment by the editors that the 102 terms selected by them are the only concepts or ideas which have notable significance in the tradition of western thought. The Inventory of Terms manifests exactly the opposite judgment. Its 1800 words or phrases express important concepts. Though many of diese will immediately be seen to have much less comprehensive or critical meaning than the 102 major terms of the Syntopicon, they all have general currency or importance in some special field of inquiry. They also represent notions or topics which fall under one or more of the 102 great ideas.» p.xx
«
The Syntopicon as a book to be read.
With respect to its 102 essays on the great ideas, the Syntopicon is first of all a book to be read. These essays are arranged in the alphabetical order of the ideas, but they need not be read in that order. Each is intended to be intelligible in itself, independently of the others. The reader can therefore begin according to his interests with any one of the Introductions to the great ideas. No matter where he begins, he will find that the reading of no other Introduction is presupposed. But he will also find that each Introduction traces some of the connections between the particular idea which it treats and other great ideas.» p. xxiii
« The reading of one or more Introductions should also turn attention to the Outlines o f Topics in these same chapters; and, through them and the references organized.’ under them, to the great books themselves. A s integral parts o f the Syntopicon, the Introductions to the great ideas’are-not intended to satisfy the reader’s interest, but rather to arouse it,- and then direct it to the great books. » p. xxiv
«(3) The Syntopicon as an instrument of liberal education.
… the point remains that the essence of syntopical reading lies in the juxtaposition’of many authors under the same topic.and, in consequence, the reading together of their works, in whole or’part.. -» p. xxiv