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[Introduction]
[Before Starting Research]
[Catalogs--OPACS]
[Database Finder & Indexes]
[Online Journal Collections]
[Journals: Print & Online]
[Internet Resources]
[Selected Print Resources]
[Multi-Disciplinary Approach]
This guide is about initiating research in Philosophy. It does not attempt to be comprehensive; instead it is an introduction to the process. The intended audience is undergraduates, but anyone interested in doing Philosophy research will find this guide a useful starting point.
Many of the print sources will be located in the Main University Library. Call numbers will indicate the location of the resource. Most of the print titles will be found in the Reference section, located on the first floor of the Main Library. Additional titles may be shelved in Reserve in the Interactive Media Center (IMC), which is located on the lower level. Call numbers for reference books are preceded with "Ref" and Reserve books with "RBR," while no prefix on the call number indicates the book is shelved in the regular stacks on the second floor. If you have any questions, ask at the Reference Desk.
All electronic resources are available from workstations in all three University libraries. To access electronic resources from off campus, an individual must have a valid University at Albany identification card and be a registered University at Albany Libraries borrower. To read about remote access, go to Off-Campus Access to Databases and Online Journals.
Philosophy research is most fruitful when some preliminary considerations are kept in mind:
All research takes time; it is important to start as early as possible. With sufficient time, you will be able to access more resources, insuring better and more thorough results.
ILLiad is an integrated interlibrary loan service through which
you can request materials from remote libraries. Once the account is set
up, borrowing is extremely easy. Many requests can be handled electronically,
with articles delivered directly to your email account. Accounts can be
set up easily online through the Library's homepage listed under "InterLibrary
Loan" or go
directly to ILLiad. 
.
CDLC cards allow you to go to local participating libraries and borrow directly, which can greatly speed up the process of getting important materials. To get a CDLC card, take your valid identification card and go to the Circulation Desk. They usually do them on the spot and it takes about 10 minutes.
A thesis statement provides you with a focused topic.
NOTE: For an brief explanation of a thesis statement,look at the Research Process or ask at the Reference Desk.
When you start searching, begin with this list, in descending order, for the best resources in terms of quality and scope of coverage:
Catalogs(OPACs): University at Albany Libraries' and others
Database Finder & Indexes
Journals: Print & Online
Internet
Two catalogs are recommended: one, Minerva, which is the University at Albany Libraries' catalog and provides access to titles in the Libraries; and, two, WorldCat, which is an extensive catalog-of-catalogs and provides access to important titles not owned by the University Libraries, but easily obtained via interlibrary loan(ILL).
Note: the OPAC, like many indexes and databases, uses specific terms for subject headings (referred to as controlled vocabulary). For assistance, check the Library of Congress Subject Headings volumes [REF Z 695 U4752x] or ask a Reference Librarian.
The Library's OPAC is an excellent resource for finding Philosophy resources. The following are some suggestions for using the catalog:
Browse search with "Subject heading begins with..." This allows you to search broader topics. For example, if your topic is focused on Ethics, search on:
Ethics
. . . [See Also Narrower Term] Ethical relativism (Subject)
. . . [See Also Narrower Term] Feminist ethics (Subject)
. . . [See Also Narrower Term] Moral education (Subject)
Note: for exact terms, see Library of Congress Subject Headings volumes [REF Z 695 U4752x] or ask a Reference Librarian.
keyword search "Subject." For example, if your topic is feminism and philosophy, possible search terms might be:
women and philosophy
feminism and philosophy
search related works. When you display a record, open the full record and examine the links listed under "Subjects -- Lib. Cong.;" these will take you to related works.
This is an extensive collection of resources that are available through interlibrary loan. Use the same search strategies mentioned above.
If you have an ILL account set up, just click on the ILLiad icon, enter your ILLiad username and password, and the request is complete. Remember to start early, because loan items may take up to 2 weeks to arrive.
There is a large variety of databases, e-texts, and indexes for Philosophy research. Some indexes only contain citations; others contain citations and abstracts. Databases may contain citations and abstracts, and full-text.
The most important resources are listed here:
. Produced by
Philosopher's Information Center, the database contains over 213,000
bibliographic citations with author abstracts in the fifteen fields of
philosophy. It covers over 480 journals from 38 countries in English,
Spanish, German, Italian, and French. Coverage is from
1940 -- present.
Past Masters:
. This is a full-text database
of 11 philosophers' works in authoritative editions in both the original
language and English translations.
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy:
. The Encyclopedia is international in scope
with over 2000 entries of interest beyond philosophy including psychology,
languages, literature, law, politics, history, cultural studies, mathematics,
and science. Coverage: from antiquity -- present.
The library subscribes to numerous journals for Philosophy research. Many are available in full-text in the following two, online collections:
. Over 200
scholarly journals in the humanities, social sciences, and mathematics
from Johns Hopkins University. The journals are exact images of the print
version; but each title is limited to the most recent issues, usually no
longer than the last 4 years. The journals can be browsed by
title, subject, or collection and searched individually; or an entire
subject collection can be searched by doing the following:
select search
select a subject
. Back files
of scholarly journals in the humanities, social sciences, and
mathematics, many with counterparts in Project Muse. Some titles date
back over 50 years. Journals are exact images of the print version. The
journals can be browsed either alphabetically or by discipline and searched
individually; or partial or entire disciplines can be searched by doing
the following:
In addition to the online journal collections, the library subscribes to numerous journals for Philosophy research. Many of these are available full-text online.
To access journals either online or in print, you need the journal's title. In some cases you may know it, or you may find it in a citation while searching an index or database.
Next, go to the Libraries' catalog page Journals: Print & Online. Type in the exact title of the journal; the catalog record will indicate if the journal is available online (Note: remember to compare the date of your citation and the years of coverage of any online access; it varies for each journal). If it is not available online, open the Full Record to find the Libraries' holdings, including the location, i.e. the building, and the call number.
Finally, there is the Internet. Resources found there can be of uneven quality. Unlike the resources mentioned above, the responsibility for evaluating authority and value resides with you. Before using the Internet for Philosophy research, you should be aware of how to use it wisely. It is strongly recommended that you spend some time reviewing the following two sites:
Evaluating Internet Resources: An excellent overview on evaluating Internet resources. Again, a website can look "authoritative," but you have to determine if it is.
The best way to search the Internet is to begin from reliable websites. The following, from the University at Albany Libraries, are good places to start:
Start at the subject directory Academic & Professional Directories from the Internet Subject Directories. Subject directories differ significantly from search engines in that the selection of links is generally done by skilled human beings, frequently librarians.
There are, of course, numerous print resources for Philosophy research. The University's Libraries contain a wealth of these; the following is a selected list:
Quotations from approximately 340 Western philosophers, as well as works of contemporary philosophers are represented in this reference. Authors are listed alphabetically with their quotations. Quotations are generally about six to ten lines. A glossary of terms is included, as is a subject index. A keyword index, however, is not.
This resource includes books by and about women philosophers. The author divides topics in philosophy between the history of philosophy and "systematical philosophy." "Systematical philosophy" is divided into sections such as epistemology, metaphysics, etc. The section on the history of philosophy includes information regarding individual philosophers, as well as history pertaining to other aspects of philosophy. Doctoral dissertations are included, as is an author index. Entries do not include annotations.
This reference contains approximately 435 articles, including an article on women moral philosophers. Major historical periods are treated in twelve essays under the heading, "History of Western Ethics." Most articles pertain to Western philosophical thought; however, other areas are also included. Bibliographies are included with the articles.
This reference provides listings and annotations for resources in the field of philosophy. Chapters on core journals and professional associations are included, as well as on specialized branches in the discipline. Electronic sources are also discussed.
One of the sections of this reference, titled "History of Chinese Philosophy," includes information about movements and schools in Chinese philosophy. Other sections deal with subjects such as epistemology, logic, ethics, etc. The Guide mostly contains English-language materials.
Included in this resource are chapters on the history of philosophy (including movements) and on different sections of philosophy. Secondary sources are used more often than primary documents in discussions of earlier time periods. An author/title index is included, as is a brief annotated list of reference works.
Covering classical antiquity in volume 1 and medieval and early modern Europe in volume 2, this resource offers bibliographic essays concerning philosophy and the history of ideas. Topics covered include aesthetics, science, and religion. A periodical index and author-title index are also included.
This one-volume dictionary, arranged alphabetically, includes entries on schools, thoughts, ideas, etc. Eastern and Western thought systems are examined within the approximately 4,000 entries contained in this reference.
The focus of this reference is on topics and individuals related to Marxist thought; however, other philosophical interests are also included. Concepts, schools and movements, the background of Marxism, and Marxist philosophers are treated.
Along with entries concerning philosophical concepts, including schools and movements, this reference contains approximately 400 articles on topics such as Behaviorism, Process Philosophy, etc. Individuals are not included as entries.
Examined in this handbook are figures, schools, periods, and concepts pertaining to metaphysics. Approxiamtely 470 articles on various topics relating to metaphysics are included. Contributors to this work are international.
While not solely devoted to a philosophical treatment of science, this aspect of science is included along with the historical aspect of the subject. Some philosophical topics may be found under "Human Sciences," and 130 entries pertain to philosophy of science. A biographical index is included.
Articles in this reference discuss concepts and their historical development as well as their contemporary significance. Entries include topics such as evil, deconstruction, free will, evolution, etc. Bibliographies accompany entries.
130 articles are contained in this work. Included are philosophical concepts pertaining to literature and visual and performing arts. Also included is information on schools and areas (Chinese and Japanese aesthetics) of thought. Historical and contemporary philosophers are represented as well.
2,000 articles are included in this encyclopedia. Entries are
preceded by an overview. Articles vary in length.
Available on CD-ROM and electronically as
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Levels of the articles in this reference may vary from introductory to advanced. Indviduals are included, as are terms and concepts. Primarily Anglo-American, this work does offer some information on Continental Epistemology.
This resource may be helpful for background information on the field. The researcher may want to consult another source for more current information regarding medical ethics. Many of the contributors to this book are physicians. Bibliographies are included.
Working on this project was an international editorial board of 153 scholars. Included are articles on philosophy in selected countries and sections on "Philosophical Journals" and "Philosophical Bibliographies." Topics pertaining to philosophy in different subject areas are treated as well. A 1996 supplement to the Encyclopedia, edited by Donald M. Borchert, editor-in-chief, includes additonal information regarding topics and indviduals in philosophy. Arranged alphabetically, the supplement includes subfields such as, applied ethics, continental philosophy, feminist philosophy, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, and social and political philosophy. The supplement includes cross-references to the 1967 Encyclopedia, as well as its own index.
Three main sections makeup this reference.
Part I -contributions of six disciplines to the field.
Part II -articles on six ideologies regarding political philosophy.
Part III -articles on different topics including, liberty, democracy, justice,
etc.
Articles are arranged alphabetically by title.
Bibliographic references are included, as is a
name/subject index.
176 articles are contained within the Companion Encyclopedia. Arranged into several parts, some have a higher concentration of information pertaining to the philosophy of mathematics than others.
This reference contains approximately 2,500 terms. Some definitions are simple, while others have more in-depth information regarding the nature of the term in relation to philosophical study. Arrangement is by the Roman alphabet. Charts are included at the end of the book.
Part I of this work contains an essay titled, "Essay on Mind," which introduces the field of study. The essay contains cross-references to articles located in part II. Part II contains alphabetically arranged articles on different topics. Reflections of philosophers on thier own ideas and points of view are included. Some bibliographies and a subject/name index are also included.
248 scholars worked to create The Oxford Companion to Philosophy. Almost 2,000 entries cover both Eastern and Western current and historical philosophic concerns including branches and schools, as well as others. A chronological table, maps, and bibliographies may also be found in this work.
The New Catholic Encyclopedia contains articles concerning scripture, examines rites and rituals, and discusses the history of the church. Articles about religious movements and biographies of individuals are included. Entries are arranged alphabetically. Also included are maps, charts, and illustrations. Volume 15 contains an index to the Encyclopedia. Entries on philosophy in volume 11 include: "philosophy, history of," "philosophy and science," and "philosophy of nature." Cross-references are made throughout entries to philosophers and other aspects of philosophy. Philosophy in this work focuses on scholastic tradition. The Jubilee volume contains information about saints and beati.
This work focuses on social and political philosophy, and contains topics such as: hermeneutics, Maoism, utopia, pragmatisim, etc. Entries are generally 1 to 1½ pages in length. References for further reading are included with each entry, and a general bibiliography is included at the end of the work.
Concentrating on the development of philosophical terminology, this work contains such terms arranged alaphbetically in English. An English-Greek index is provided.
The focus of this work is on philosophy with information on religious thought as a more minor aspect of the book. Included are, "analyses of the thought of virtually all major philosophers and religious leaders." Cross-references are made between concepts and thinkers; and, entries on individuals also contain a list of prinicpal writings with the entry. "Sketches," of the fields of philosophy are also included.
Topics included in the Encyclopedia are: genome mapping, gene therapy, cryopreservation, veterinary ethics, and others. Five essays pertaining to bioethics offer additonal thoughts in this field. There is also an appendix containing ethical codes, oaths, etc.
Arranged by theme, this reference examines terminology of Anglophone philosophy from the twentieth-century. Terminology pertaining to argument is also treated. An index and a bibliography are included.
Chapters contained in this work examine such topics as Existential Phenomenology and the work of Husserl. A bibliography accompanies each chapter, and entries are included with brief annotations. An appendix includes bibliographies on thinkers such as Hiedegger and Sartre.
This multidisciplinary work contains an "Analytical Table of Contents," which lists entries under major subject headings. For example, "the history of religious and philosophical ideas," and, "the history of ideas about the external order of nature studied by the physical and biological sciences." Three types of "studies" are offered by the dictionary including, "studies that trace an idea from antiquity to later periods." Enties on individuals' thoughts are not included. An index is included.
Terminology covered in this work is chiefly that of Aristotle and Aqunias, although other thinkers' contributions are included as well. Compound terms or phrases may be found listed under the primary term. Tables and diagrams for classifications are also included.
Entries on philosophers contained in the Companion include: Rousseau, Kant, Hume, Molyneuz, and others. This reference also contains philosophical terms relating to the period. Bibliographies accompany most entries.
Representing philosophical thought from around the world, this reference contains biographical information about philosophers including nationality, categories, etc. Bibliographies of the indviduals' work(s), as well as secondary resources pertaining to that individual, are included in the entry about that person. Several indexes are contained within this work, including indexes on nationality, fields of interests, categories, etc. Name and subject indexes are also included, as well as a guide to schools and movements.
Covering a time period between 345-1464, this work examines the lives of Islamic, Judaic, and Christian medieval philosophers. Lists of indivdual authors' work(s), biographical information, and a list of secondary sources are included in the entries. A cumulative index ends the volume.
109 essays including thinkers from China, Japan, Korea, India, and the Islamic World are contained in this reference. The work is organized by country or Islamic World, and then chronologically within each of these sections. Lesser known figures are also included in this work. Some major figures (e.g. Muhammad), however, have been excluded.
This resource offers abstracts in English for journal articles from major English, French, German,
Spanish, and Italian philosophy journals. Book materials are also included; however,
they are English language materials only. Abstracts are located in an author section, and subject
and author listings are included for entries in the The Philosopher's Index.
Available on CD-ROM and electonically as
The Philosopher's Index
Journal literature from 1940 to 1966 and books published from 1940 to 1976 are covered in this version of The Philospher's Index. In this three volume set, volumes 1 and 2 contain the subject index while volume 3 contains the abstracts and author listings. Approximately 15,000 articles and 6,000 books are covered.
Gouped alphabetically first by state, and then by institution, this reference includes U.S. university and college philosophy departments. Entries contain department addresses and chairs, faculty members, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Information regarding assistantships, societies, etc. is also included, along with a directory of philosophers in Canada and the United States, a section on statistics, and indexes of institutions, societies, journals, etc.
This reference is comprised of five sections including college and university philosophy departments, research centers and institutes, etc. These are further divided by country. Each of the five sections has its own index. Contained within each entry are fax and phone numbers, e-mail addresses, names of faculty members, and more. An alphabetical listing of philosophers is also included.
Philosophy research covers a growing range of cultural interests, so you might want to consider a multi-disciplinary approach. First, choose another subject area related to your topic; for example, if you are focusing on philosophy and feminism, you would want to research under Women's Studies; or if your topic is philosophy and politics, you might find important resources searching under History or Political Science. Next, follow the same process described in this guide: use your thesis statement and search catalogs, databases, journals, selected print resources, and the Internet.
This page was Created by Gerald Burke, Yu Hui Chen, and Jen Ogrodowski, and is maintained by Gerald Burke
Comments to
gburke@uamail.albany.edu