Getting Started/General Resources
There are many handbooks, dictionaries, and encyclopedias that provide basic information. If you are not clear about your topic, try establishing its limits with a good definition and some introductory information. The following general sources can give you a quick overview or summary of a topic, and you can find other, more specialized resources in the Reference Room:
General Resources
The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy
Ref B41 .C35 1999
Does not contain articles on living philosophers. Includes an index of all names mentioned in the articles.
A Dictionary of Philosophy
Ref B41 .M38 1996
Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology
B41 .B18 1911
"Including many of the principal conceptions of ethics, logic, aesthetics, philosophy of religion, mental pathology, anthropology, biology, neurology, physiology, economics, political and social philosophy, philology, physical science, and education; and giving a terminology in English, French, German, and Italian written by many hands and edited by James Mark Baldwin." The first philosophy encyclopedia written in English. Useful for topics now out of date and the viewpoint of the beginning of the 20th century.
Dictionary of World Philosophy
Ref B41 .I26 2001
Global coverage including Africa, Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern, Maori, and Native American philosophies. Bibliographies.
Directory of American Philosophers
Ref B935 .D5 v.2006/2007
Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Ref & Oversize B41 .E5 1967
The standard encyclopedic work covering Western and Eastern philosophy, although it does have a bias towards Anglo-American philosophy. The copy in the Reference Room also has the one volume supplement published in 1996 which has articles with updates to the major areas of philosophy and articles on topics new emerged or not treated in the original volumes and biographies of newly prominent philosophers. 8 v. with supplement.
The Handbook of Western Philosophy
Ref B804 .H17 1988
A systemic survey of contemporary Anglo-American philosophical thought. Includes a glossary, a chronology of the history of philosophy from 1600 to 1960, and indexes.
International Directory of Philosophy and Philosophers
Ref B35 .I55 v.2001/2002
Key Ideas in Human Thought
Ref B41 .K48 1993
Around 2,500 "ideas", many of which are outside of philosophy proper but have been important in philosophical thought.
The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy
Comprehensive in coverage. Other than primary sources mentioned in articles there are no bibliographies.
The Oxford Companion to Philosophy
Includes brief bibliographies, portraits, a chronological table and a table of logical symbols.
The Philosopher's Dictionary
Brief definitions with notes on usage, spelling and pronunciation.
Philosophy: A Guide to the Reference Literature
Ref B72 .B95 1997
A comprehensive guide covering resources in philosophy including encyclopedias, dictionaries, indexes and bibliographies. Lists annotated resources for branches, schools and periods of philosophy as well individual philosophers.
Research Guide to Philosophy
Ref B52 .T5 1983
Includes bibliographic essays on specific chronological periods and philosophers and on different areas of philosophy. Over 3000 monographic resources are cited with annotations and evaluative comments.
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Ref B51 .R68 1998 (10 v.)
A comprehensive encyclopedia. The online version can be browsed by philosophical themes, philosophies, historical periods, and religions. Fulltext entries can be searched by keyword, title, contributor, or bibliography.