Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Name	Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Language	English
Subject	Philosophy
Genre	Reference work
Publisher	Macmillan
Pub date	1967

Encyclopedia of Philosophy is a major academic reference work first published in 1967 by Macmillan Publishers. Edited by philosopher Paul Edwards, it was conceived as a comprehensive English-language survey of Western and Eastern philosophical thought. The work quickly established itself as a standard resource in universities and libraries worldwide, renowned for its scholarly depth and authoritative contributions from leading academics. Its publication marked a significant milestone in the consolidation and dissemination of philosophical knowledge in the 20th century.

History and development

The project was initiated in the early 1960s under the editorial direction of Paul Edwards, who assembled a board of distinguished consulting editors including Sidney Hook and Richard Rorty. Funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the editorial team aimed to create a work that surpassed existing resources like the earlier Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology. The compilation involved hundreds of contributors from institutions such as Harvard University, Oxford, and the University of Cambridge, with a focus on post-World War II philosophical developments. The first edition was published in 1967 in eight volumes, coinciding with a period of significant expansion in analytic philosophy and renewed interest in continental philosophy.

Major encyclopedias and editions

The premier 1967 edition set the standard, featuring extensive entries on figures from Plato and Aristotle to Ludwig Wittgenstein and Jean-Paul Sartre. A second edition, edited by Donald M. Borchert, was published in 2006 by Macmillan Reference USA, a division of Thomson Gale. This revised and expanded edition comprised ten volumes, incorporating new areas of scholarship like bioethics, cognitive science, and expanded coverage of feminist philosophy and non-Western traditions. Other notable related works include the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward Craig, and the online Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, which adopted a dynamic publication model.

Scope and editorial approach

Its scope is encyclopedic, covering the entire history of philosophy from Presocratic philosophy to contemporary movements. The editorial approach emphasized signed, scholarly articles written by experts, with major entries often reaching monograph length. It provides detailed analysis of philosophical concepts such as epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and logic, alongside biographies of major philosophers. The work also addresses interdisciplinary connections with fields like theology, mathematics, and the natural sciences, and includes surveys of philosophical traditions in regions like India, China, and the Islamic world.

Impact and reception

Upon its release, it received widespread critical acclaim for its comprehensiveness and scholarly rigor, with reviews in publications like The Times Literary Supplement and The New York Review of Books. It won several awards, including the prestigious Dartmouth Medal. The encyclopedia became an indispensable tool for students and researchers, influencing the curriculum of philosophy departments from the University of Chicago to the Australian National University. Its authoritative status is frequently cited in academic publications and it has been translated into several languages, solidifying its global impact on philosophical education.

Comparison with other reference works

Compared to the historically focused Cambridge History of Philosophy series, it offers more concise, concept-oriented entries. It is more extensive and academically rigorous than single-volume companions like The Oxford Companion to Philosophy. Unlike the continuously updated online Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the print editions provide a fixed, curated snapshot of mid-to-late 20th-century scholarship. Its closest competitor in scale is the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, though the latter places greater emphasis on global philosophy and was designed from the outset for digital integration.

Digital and online evolution

The 2006 second edition was released in both print and electronic formats, with the digital version available through platforms like Gale Virtual Reference Library. This transition facilitated enhanced searchability and cross-referencing. The success of born-digital projects like the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy has influenced expectations for reference works, promoting dynamic updates and open access. Future developments may involve greater integration with digital archives like JSTOR and Project MUSE, as well as interactive multimedia components, continuing the evolution from a static print resource to a dynamic digital knowledge base.

Category:Encyclopedias of philosophy Category:Macmillan Publishers books Category:1967 non-fiction books