University of Waterloo Library
The accompanying Collection Development Policy statement is submitted by Christine
Jewell, Liaison Librarian for the Department of Philosophy and is approved by the
undersigned.
[signed]
[signed]
____________________________________
Associate University Librarian,
Information Resources & Services
______________________________
Department Chair
[signed]
[signed]
____________________________________
Liaison Librarian
______________________________
Faculty Library Representative
Date:
2006
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University of Waterloo Library
Collection Development Policy statement for Philosophy.
Date Completed:
Persons Responsible for Collection
The decision to select library materials is the responsibility of the Liaison Librarian, Christine Jewell, in
consultation with the Faculty Library Representative, Joseph Novak.
Department Description and Purpose
Materials are collected to serve the teaching and research needs of students and faculty in the Department
of Philosophy from the undergraduate to the PhD level.
Materials collected support teaching and research needs of faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students
with emphasis on these areas: ethics, contemporary moral theory, applied ethics, theories of truth,
mathematical and philosophical logic, philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of language, metaphysics,
history of analytic philosophy, philosophy of science, philosophy of physics, cognitive science, philosophy
of mind, philosophy of medicine, contemporary European philosophy, philosophy of/in literature, ancient
philosophy, and medieval philosophy.
Scope of Coverage
Languages
For core materials, the emphasis is on the English language and translations into English. Materials in
French, German, and Latin are collected. There are no specific language restrictions.
Geographical Areas
There are no specific limits.
Chronological Periods
There are no specific chronological limitations. Coverage is generally from 500 BC to the present, including ancient,
medieval, renaissance, modern and contemporary philosophy.
Places of Publication
Priority is given to materials published in North America and Europe.
Dates of Publication
Retrospective as well as currently published materials are collected.
Types and Formats of Materials Collected
In general, the Library does not acquire materials in a format for which access cannot be provided in the
Library.
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Included
The following types of materials are generally included: books, periodicals, reprints, facsimiles, reference
works, symposia, conference proceedings, festschrifts.
The following formats are generally included: print, microforms, electronic format.
Collected Selectively
The following types of materials are collected selectively: dissertations and theses, manuscripts and
unpublished materials, government documents, pamphlets.
The following formats are collected selectively: films, videos, slides, computer software, sound recordings.
Excluded
The following types of materials are generally excluded: newspapers, textbooks.
Subjects Collected
(For further explanation about collecting levels see Appendix 1)
Aesthetics
American Philosophy
Analytic Philosophy
History of Analytic Philosophy
Cognitive Science
Contemporary European Philosophy
Critical Thinking
Epistemology
Confirmation Theory
Decision Theory
Rational Decision-making
Theories of Truth
Ethics
Applied Ethics
Bioethics
Contemporary Moral Theory
Environmental Ethics
Medical Ethics
Moral Psychology
Professional and Business Ethics
Existentialism & Phenomenology
Feminist Philosophy
History of Philosophy
Alexandrian and Early Christian Philosophy
Ancient Philosophy
Empiricism
History of Science
History of Philosophy of Science
Medieval Philosophy
Modern Philosophy (17th and 18th centuries)
Rationalism
Renaissance Philosophy
Logic
Formal Logic
History of Logic
Mathematical and Philosophical Logic
Medieval Logic
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate
Research
Research
Research
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Research
Research
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Research
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Research
Basic Information/Reference Level
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Research
Basic Information/Reference Level
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Research
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Research
Research
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Research
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
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Philosophy of Mathematics
Metaphysics
Philosophy of Education
Philosophy of/in Literature
Philosophy of Language
Philosophy of Law
Philosophy of Medicine
Philosophy of Mind
Philosophy of Religion
Philosophy of Science
Philosophy of Physics
Political Philosophy and Theory
Research
Research
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Research
Research
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
Research
Research
Basic Information/Reference Level
Research
Research
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
All collections are systematically reviewed for currency of information and to ensure that essential and important
resources are retained. Superseded editions and titles containing outdated information should be withdrawn as
necessary. Classic retrospective materials should be retained and preserved to serve the needs of historical research.
Library of Congress Outline – Philosophy
B
BC
BD
BF38 – 64
BF309-499
BF 41- 171
BF 199
BF 204.5
BF 467 – 475
BF 608 – 628
BF608 – 635
BH
BJ
BL 51
HQ 767.15
HV 4701 – 4759
JA 71 – 84
JC 11 – 599
K 201 - 487
LB 125 - 875
LC 268 – 269
P 85-106
PN 45 - 49
Q 173-177
QA 8-10.3
QA 269
QC 6
QH 332
QH 361
QP 376 – 426
QP 411
R 723-727
R 850 – 853
RA 1067
TD 171 – 178
Z7125-7130
Philosophy
Logic
Speculative philosophy
Philosophy. Relation to other topics
Consciousness. Cognition.
Psychological philosophy
Behaviourism
Phenomenological psychology
Time. Space. Causality.
Will. Determinism
Will volition choice control
Aesthetics
Ethics
Philosophy of religion
Abortion, moral and legal aspects
Treatment of animals
Political philosophy
Political theory
Philosophy and theory of law
Education – philosophy
Moral education
Philosophy of language
Philosophy and literature
Philosophy and science
Mathematical logic
Game theory
Philosophy of Physics
Bioethics
Evolution
Brain/physiology and psychology
Consciousness
Philosophy of medicine, Medical ethics
Medical research – moral aspects
Abortion
Environmental ethics
Philosophy bibliographies and reference guides
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Other Resources Available
The Library explores opportunities for collaborative purchases with the Ontario Council of University
Libraries and the Canadian Research Knowledge Network.
Appendix 1
Explanation of Levels of Collecting, adapted from RLG Guidelines
Levels of Collecting
Out of Scope
Materials to support research and curricula in this subject area are not covered in this Collection Policy
Statement. Coverage of interdisciplinary subject areas and topics linked across departments can be
identified with references to other Collection Policy Statements.
Basic Information/Reference Level
The collection serves to introduce and define the subject. Only the most important reference works,
general surveys, the most significant works of major authors, and a limited selection of representative
general periodicals are collected.
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
The collection supports all courses of undergraduate study. Materials collected include a wide range of
reference works, fundamental bibliographic tools, and an extensive collection of monographs and
periodicals. Access to owned or remotely-accessed electronic resources, including texts, journals, data sets,
etc. is provided.
Research Level
The collection includes major published source materials required for master’s degree programmes,
doctoral study and independent research in the subject. All formats, including appropriate foreign-language
titles, are acquired. Historically important monographs, archival materials, and back-runs of serials are
acquired as necessary.
Adapted from RLG guidelines.
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