[net.books] New Encyclopedia of Philosophy

ray@bgsuvax.UUCP (David Ray) (11/04/85)

This posting has to do with reference sources, research needs and interests,
and philosophy:

The last philosophical encyclopedia that claimed to be comprehensive, and was
commonly acknowledged as such, came out in 1967.  (Many of its articles and
bibliographies were written or compiled between the years 1962 and 1965.)
I am referring to Paul Edwards' (and his contributors') excellent work, viz.
*The Encyclopedia of Philosophy*.

Much has happenned in the fields of philosophy and library science since
that work.  There are some things philosophers want to know in the way of 
quick reference that cannot be found in Edwards (or other existing       
philosophical encyclopedias).  There are some things librarians cannot  
offer because of the way these works limit access to information.

So: Do you think a new philosophical encyclopedia is warranted
given the research needs of philosophers, academics in cognate areas, and lay-
persons?  Is one needed given the requirements of reference librarians?  
Comments along these lines might include views on the range of issues that 
deserve coverage, the proper treatment of these issues, probable audience,
length, price, and format.  (Of special interest re this last area are 
online possibilities--*Academic Americana Encyclopedia* has been a full-text
database for some time; do you think it is time to repeat this?)        

Send all written correspondence to:
   David Michael Ray
   Project Director
   Philosophy Documentation Center
   Bowling Green State University
   Bowling Green, Ohio  43403-1089

Send all e-mail to:
   David Ray
   Bowling Green State University

                                                     David Ray