Sometimes it can be hard to know where to begin your research. Using the resources delineated on this page can be helpful for finding some basic resources that can help you expand your research.
If you still feel confused about your topic, think about papers you wrote in the past and what stood out for you as an interesting topic. That can also help you begin to hone your project. Check out the "Search Tips" tab for more information on brainstorming your topic.
The first three encyclopedias are online and the last resource is print. The print encyclopedia can be found in the Reference Book section in Lutnick Library, level 2. All of the resources are fairly current and are good places to obtain an overview of your topics as well as suggestions for further reading.
Handbooks provide overviews that address major issues and topics within a field of study. The authors not only discuss key content but they also provide a more sophisticated level of analysis and contextualization than you might find in a textbook or introductory study. The authors are chosen for their research in specific areas and deliver authoritative essays. The material they choose to include in their bibliographies are good points of departure for further research and reading.
Below you will find some book series which have volumes on specialized areas or topics in philosophy. There are many areas covered, and some of the books can be found elsewhere in the Tri-Co. For more information, search in TRIPOD for "Routledge Philosophy Companions" and "Blackwell Philosophy Guides".
Literature reviews are a particularly useful kind of article when doing research. They address the issues involved in a particular question and the debates among scholars. They map out the intellectual terrain succinctly and give you the major landmarks in terms of key authors and significant titles.
The Oxford Bibliographies Online provide literature reviews for a variety of fields including Philosophy The essays take the form of an annotated bibliography. It gives you the benefit of expert advice when identifying what to read for your research.
Relevant articles that relate to your thesis topics include:
You can also Browse all the Philosophy bibliographies here!