Stewart Library - Weber State University
Research Guide: Philosophy

Reference Resources

The library has many reference resources (dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, etc.) that will help you find background information on topics in Philosophy and related fields.  Selected resources are listed below.  Look on the shelves near these books; there may be similar books nearby with helpful information.

  • The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy - Middle Level, Reference Shelves:  B 41 .C35 1999
  • Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Middle Level, Reference Shelves: B 51 .R68 1998
  • Philosophy's Literature - Middle Level, Reference Shelves:  B 72 .B46 2001
  • World Philosophers and their Works - Middle Level, Reference Shelves: B 104 .W67 2000
  • Companion Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy - Middle Level, Reference Shelves: B 121 .C66 1997
  • Encyclopedia of Aesthetics - Middle Level, Reference Shelves: BH 56 .E53 1996
  • Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics - Middle Level, Reference Shelves:  BJ 63 .E44 1998
  • Encyclopedia of Ethics - Middle Level, Reference Shelves:  BJ 63 .E45 2001
  • A Dictionary of Marxist Thought - Middle Level, Reference Shelves:  HX 17.D5 1991
  • Source Book in Bioethics - Middle Level, Reference Shelves:  R 724 .S599 1998

Finding Books

Online Catalogs: 

Use library online catalogs to find availability and location of books and other media:

Browse the Shelves: 

Most of the books on Philosophy are located on the Top Level of the library in the General Collection under the call number B.  Books of interest may also be found under BH [Aesthetics], BJ [Ethics], BL [Religion], BV [Theology], HX [Socialism, Communism], J [Political Science], P [Language, Communications], PN [Literature, Media] and R [Medicine].

Bibliographies: 

When you find a good book or article, check the bibliography to identify other books and articles on your subject.

Interlibrary Loan: 

If we do not own a particular book you need, we will borrow it for you from another library through Interlibrary Loan.

Finding Articles

Online Article Databases: 

Use Social and Behavior Sciences article databases to find magazine and journal articles by subject or keyword.  Philosopher's Index is an excellent place to begin.

Newspaper Databases: 

Use News article databases to find newspaper articles by subject or keyword.

Electronic Journals: 

The library also provides access to many electronic journals in Philosophy.  All of these allow you to browse the table of contents of journal issues and many allow you to search all available issues by keyword.  Try searching philosophy or philosophical as words in the title.

Browse Current Periodicals: 

Current issues of magazines and journals in Philosophy and related fields are found in the B section of the Current Periodicals Area on the Middle Level of the library.  Bound volumes of older issues are shelved upstairs in the General Collection.

Bibliographies: 

When you find a good book or article, check the bibliography to identify other books and articles on your subject.

Interlibrary Loan: 

If the article you need is not available in our library, we will obtain a copy of it for you from another library through Interlibrary Loan.

Web Resources

A good place to begin is the WWW Virtual Library: Philosophy.  Most of the sites listed will provide links to additional sites, so explore!  Use Internet search engines to find additional information.

Research Tips

As you do your research, keep the following tips in mind:


Updated February 21, 2006 . Please send comments to Wade Kotter
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