Philosophy Research Guide

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Books and Multimedia

UCF Library Catalog
http://library.ucf.edu

Use the online catalog to locate books and multimedia in the UCF Libraries. You can search by author, title, keyword, or subject.

• To search for a person, as AUTHOR or SUBJECT, search by last name, first name; for example:
  • Dewey John
  • Weil Simone
• SUBJECT searching requires use of Library of Congress subject headings. The following subject headings suggest the range of topics that may be pursued:
  • Aesthetics
  • Ethics
  • Existentialism
  • Good and evil
  • Idea (Philosophy)
  • Logic
  • Meaning (Philosophy)
  • Metaphysics
  • Philosophers
  • Philosophy
  • Philosophy, American
  • Philosophy, Ancient
  • Philosophy and cognitive science
  • Philosophy of mind
  • Pragmatism
  • Truth
• If you are unsure of the exact title or unsure of the correct Library of Congress subject heading, try a KEYWORD search using two or three of the most significant words from the title or subject you are trying to find.
• To limit by FORMAT in order to find multimedia, go to the Advanced Search in the Library Catalog and use the Limit Search By option.

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Periodical Articles and Essays

Use the following sources to find periodical articles about a particular philosophical concept, movement, or philosopher. In some instances books, essays in books, and current book reviews also may be found in these sources.

Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI) (1965+)

Indexes articles, books, and book reviews from more than 1,100 art and humanities journals. This database's primary use is to track citations to the works of a specific author through the "Cited Ref Search" feature.

Essay and General Literature Index

Online version (1985+)
Index AI 3 .E752 (1900+)

Index to collections of essays in books, with emphasis on the humanities. In the print edition, arrangement is by authors, subjects, and some titles in one alphabet, with full titles of books indexed listed in the back of each volume.

Humanities Full Text (1984+)

An electronic database of citations to articles appearing in more than 400 English-language periodicals dealing with the humanities: folklore, history, language, literature, music, philosophy, religion, and classical studies. Continued by the print index Humanities Index (1974+).

Humanities Index

Index AI 3 .R493 (1974+)

Lists by subject and author articles from approximately 350 English-language journals covering such fields as folklore, history, language, literature, music, philosophy, religion, and classical studies. Continued by the electronic database Humanities Full Text (1984+).

Iter: Gateway to the Middle Ages and Renaissance

An online database listing journal articles, books, and book reviews on all aspects of medieval and Renaissance studies.

JSTOR: The Scholarly Journal Archive

Full text of 100+ core research journals (including 19 titles in philosophy) from the year of their inception, many dating back to the early 1900s. JSTOR does NOT cover the last three to five years of journals.

Philosopher's Index

Online version (1940+)
Index B 1 .A1 P43

The most important abstracting and indexing source for all aspects of philosophy. Indexes journals and books in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian. The online version does not include the information from the "Book Review Index" of the print version.

Project MUSE

Provides online access to articles in over 200 journals in the arts and humanities, sciences, and mathematics, including a number in philosophy. Usually, this database only includes articles only from the last two to five years.

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Key Journals

The following selected periodicals are devoted exclusively to philosophy. Please note, however, that many other periodicals not listed here may contain articles about some aspect of philosophy; thus, the need to consult a periodical database or index. Current print issues of periodicals to which the Libraries subscribe are arranged by title on the third floor; print back issues are shelved in the general collection by call number, while microform back issues are arranged by call number on the third floor.

American Philosophical Quarterly

Online version (1994-98)
General Collection B 1 .A437 (1964+)

Publishes five to ten articles per issue, mostly by American contributors and most but not exclusively oriented toward analytical philosophy.

Ethics

Online version (1938+ except last 2 years)
Microfilm BJ 1 .I6 (1938-62)
General Collection BJ 1 .I6 (1961+)

A leading journal in the field of social and political philosophy and ethics. In addition to moral philosophy, however, the journal also publishes articles on philosophy of law, public policy issues, religious ethics, and social and rational choice theory.

International Philosophical Quarterly

Online version (1999+ except last 3 years)
Microfiche B 1 .I72 (1961-67)
General Collection B 1 .I72 (1968+)

Provides an international forum in English for the interchange of basic philosophical ideas between the Americas and Europe and between East and West. Offers articles on a wide range of subjects.

Journal of Philosophy

Online version (192+ except last 5 years)
General Collection B 1 .J7 (1921+)

One of the most widely circulated journals, emphasizing Anglo-American philosophy, especially logic and linguistic analysis. Also includes book reviews, lists of new books, and news items.

Mind

Online version (1976+ except last 7 years)
Microfilm B 1 .M65 (1876-1960)
General Collection B 1 .M65 (1961+)

One of the oldest philosophical journals, with articles that accent philosophy of language, philosophical psychology, and ethical theory. Includes book reviews.

The Monist

Microfilm B 1 .M7 (1890-1905)
General Collection B 1 .M7 (1906+)

A journal of "general philosophical inquiry," featuring individual issues devoted to specific topics.

Philosophical Quarterly

Online version (1950+ except last 5 years)
Microfilm B 1 .P4 (1950-74)
General Collection B 1 .P4 (1975+)

Analytical in orientation, this British-based journal regularly features articles on metaphysics, ethics, logic, philosophy of language, and the history of philosophy.

The Philosophical Review

Online version (1892+ except last 5 years)
Microfilm B 1 .P5 (1892-1967)
General Collection B 1 .P5 (1968+)

While general in scope, the articles tend to emphasize epistemology and metaphysics. Book reviews are included, typically a dozen or more per issue.

Philosophy

Online version (1998+)
General Collection B 1 .P55 (1931-45; 1949+)

The official journal of Great Britain's Royal Institute of Philosophy aims "to promote the study of philosophy in all its branches."

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Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

Use the following encyclopedias and dictionaries for finding background information, definitions, biographical information, and summaries.

The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy

Reference B 41 .C35 1999

Contains entries of philosophers, philosophy-related terms, and subfields of philosophy. Does not include entries on philosophers living at time of publication.

Dictionary of Logical Terms and Symbols

Reference QA 9 .G698

According to the preface, the primary objective of this source is "to present compactly, concisely, and side by side a variety of notational systems currently used by logicians, computer scientists, and engineers." Includes a glossary of logical terms.

Dictionary of the History of Ideas: Studies of Selected Pivotal Ideas

Reference CB 5 .D52 1973

While not confined to philosophical subject matter, nonetheless philosophical ideas (e.g., "Free Will and Determinism," "Time," "Utilitarianism") are some of the topics covered in this four-volume set. Articles appear in alphabetical sequence, with bibliographies included. Volume 5 is the index.

Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics

Reference BJ 63 .E44 1998

Contains entries on specific topics dealing with ethical theory, ethical concepts, medical and scientific ethics, environmental ethics, legal ethics, ethics and politics, business and economics ethics, media ethics, and social ethics. Each entry includes a glossary of important terms, a defining statement of the essay topic, cross-references to related essays, and a bibliography. Volume 4 includes an index to the set.

Encyclopedia of Bioethics

Reference QH 332 .E52 2004

An interdisciplinary, multi-volume work covering not only philosophical aspects, but also the historical, theological, scientific, legal, and social ramifications of a wide variety of bioethical topics and issues. The 464 essays were written by 437 scholars. Volume 5 contains an appendix of "Codes, Oaths, and Directives Related to Bioethics." Use the index in volume 5 to identify specific topics and individuals.

Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd ed.

Reference B 41 .E5 2006

Aims to cover " the full spectrum of philosophical topics" (preface). Nearly 1,500 signed articles -- about 900 of them on individual philosophers -- were contributed by an international group of scholars. Volume 10 includes an index to the set. See also the newer Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (below).

The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences

Reference BF 311 .M556 1999

Contains 471 essays, arranged alphabetically, relating to mind and cognition, including philosophy, psychology, neurosciences, computational intelligence, linguistics and language, and culture and cognition. Each entry has an extensive list of references and/or further readings. Name and subject indexes.

The Oxford Companion to Philosophy

Online version
Reference B 31 .O94 1995

Covers philosophers, philosophical and related terms, and philosophical movements. The focus is on Western philosophy, although non-Western philosophy is included. Includes appendices of logical symbols, maps of philosophy, and a chronology of philosophy.

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Reference B 51 .R68 1998

A ten-volume set that is an excellent starting point for comprehensive, interdisciplinary coverage of philosophical topics and philosophers. Entries include bibliographies of suggested reading for additional information. Volume 10 is the index to the set. Available online is the Concise Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, an abridged version of the ten-volume set. See also the older Encyclopedia of Philosophy (above).

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

http://plato.stanford.edu

While far from complete, this refereed source is intended to be constantly evolving, with new entries added regularly. Many entries have lengthy bibliographies

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Synopses

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Biographies

Use the following sources, as well as many of those listed under "Encyclopedias and Dictionaries" to find biographical information on philosophers.

Biographical Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Philosophers

Online version

Reference B 104 .B5 1996

Each entry includes biographical information and a brief discussion of a twentieth-century philosopher's ideas and reception. Also includes a "Guide to Schools and Movements" section with references for further reading.

Biography Resource Center

Contains biographical information on over one million individuals from all time periods, geographical locations, and fields of endeavor. The "Biographical Facts Search" allows searching for people based on one or more personal facts, such as occupation (which includes philosophy as a category).

A Companion to the Philosophers

Online version

Reference B 72 .C595 1999

Presents essays on major African, American, Chinese, European, Indian, Islamic, Japanese, and Jewish philosophers throughout history.

Directory of American Philosophers, 1996-97

General collection B 935 .D5

International Directory of Philosophy and Philosophers, 1995-96

General collection B 35 .I67

Both volumes, produced by the Philosophy Documentation Center, list university and college philosophy departments, centers and institutes, philosophical societies, journals, publishers of philosophical works, and the names and addresses of philosophers, including some individuals with graduate philosophy degrees but not affiliated with any academic institution.

Great Thinkers of the Eastern World: The Major Thinkers and the Philosophical and Religious Classics of China, India, Japan, Korea, and the World of Islam

Reference B 5005 .G74 1995

In signed articles by noted scholars, summarizations of key ideas of major Eastern philosophical and religious thinkers.

Great Thinkers of the Western World: The Major Ideas and Classic Works of More Than 100 Outstanding Western Philosophers, Physical and Social Scientists, Psychologists, Religious Writers, and Theologians

Reference B 72 .G74 1992

In signed articles by noted scholars, summarizations of key ideas of major Western philosophical thinkers.

Women Philosophers: A Bio-Critical Source Book

Reference B 105 .W6 K47 1989

Biographical information on women philosophers from ancient times to about 1920. Entries include bibliographies of works by and about the women described.

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Internet Sources

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Bibliographies

Use the following bibliographies to identify other resources in philosophy that may be in the UCF Libraries' collections.

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Ask a Librarian

If you have questions or need additional assistance, Ask a Librarian, call the Reference Department at (407) 823-2562, or e-mail the Department at askalibrarian@mail.ucf.edu. The library liaison for Philosophy is Richard H. Harrison II, Associate University Librarian, rharriso@mail.ucf.edu.

Last Updated: 19 July 2010

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