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Philosophy: Reference sources

Search, find and properly use credible information for philosophy papers and presentations

Why use reference sources in your research?

Tick icons created by Kiranshastry - FlaticonResearch, Write and Speak From a Position of Knowledge

An overview of your topic area helps you understand...

  • the historical perspective on your topic
  • what the key issues are and how you may want to refine your topic
  • who are the stakeholders (the groups or individuals interested in or affected by this topic)
  • a context of how your topic relates to the other issues that surround it
  • specialized vocabulary that is used relating to your topic (you can use these words for searches later in your research process)

Image source: Tick icons created by Kiranshastry - Flaticon

Reference Database: Gale eBooks

Gale eBooks is great place to find definitions and overviews of philosophical topics.  This database of digitized, specialized, encyclopedias includes: the 10 volume Encyclopedia of Philosophy; 2 volume Encyclopedia of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy;  6 volume New Dictionary of the History of Ideas, and Philosophy: Sources. Perspectives and Methodologies.

Search example in Gale eBooks (formerly known as GVRL) (it's OK to copy this box and change examples/wording)

Step 1: Searching for an article

Consider the MAIN concept you are exploring, and use that as a keyword to search this database for relevant articles.

Keyword search for epistemology in Gale Ebooks database

Step 2: Selecting an article

To read an article in Gale eBooks, click on the article title. Be sure to note the titles of the encyclopedias the articles come from. Finally, always read through more than one article to get multiple perspectives or views on an issue.

Click the article title to read the whole article.

Results of articles from epistemology search in Gale Ebooks database

Step 3: Saving and citing an article

Once you click on an article title, look at the tools on the side for how to cite, email, download, etc., so you can take that article with you.

sample article in Gale eBooks database and tools to print, save, and cite

Sample encyclopedias and reference sources

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