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February 2001, update of June1988
Anthony Vaver, Humanities Librarian.
The Philosophy Department offers only an undergraduate program. The minor has four "tracks": Track 1: Language, Logic, and the Philosophy of Science; Track 2: Value Theory: Ethics, Politics, Society, Religion, and Art; Track 3: Metaphysics and the Philosophy of Mind; and Track 4: General Minor. The Philosophy department tends to be strong in analytic philosophy and weaker in continental philosophy. Many professors participate in a joint exchange program between the philosophy departments of Brandeis University and Wellesley College.
The primary concern of philosophy is to explore ideas that are central to the ways we live and that we commonly use without much reflection, ideas such as truth and justice, the notion of consciousness, and good and evil. In the course of our daily lives we take the ideas of time, language, knowledge, and our own identity for granted. Philosophy seeks to push our understanding of these ideas deeper. It is the systematic study of ideas that is fundamental to all the other disciplines taught at the University-the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and the arts.
The skills philosophy helps to develop-critical thinking, sound reasoning, enlightened use of one's imagination, and the capacity to analyze complex issues-are invaluable in the study of any subject or the pursuit of any vocation. Philosophy is unavoidable: every thoughtful individual is gripped by philosophical questions and is guided by assumptions that the study of philosophy brings explicitly to light and puts into larger perspective.
The philosophy collection used to be seen as one of the cornerstones of the library's collection, but the demise of the graduate program in philosophy has diminished the need to maintain a collection as deep as the library once had. Still, the discipline of philosophy is the foundation and link between many fields of study, so philosophy retains much of its importance for the library's overall collection. The philosophy collection not only supports present curricular needs of the Philosophy Department, but also supports the study and research of many students and faculty outside of the department.
None Specified
No geographical distinctions can be drawn within the subject matter of philosophy. However, there are philosophical traditions that are of primary interest at Brandeis. These are Western European, Ancient Greek, and the Near and Middle East. There are some course offerings in the Far Eastern tradition and also some research interest. This tradition is expected to be an enduring interest.
No restrictions.
No limitations, but current imprints of critical editions are preferred. However, it is sometimes important to have older editions available for comparison and for research. In the case of non-current publications, no preference is given to original editions over reprints. The text and condition of the volume is of first concern.
English is the primary language of the collection. Other languages which are represented are German and French. There is no restriction on languages. Works are purchased in the original language when they are important and necessary for research purposes, but the attempt is made to furnish English translations as well.
Monographs are crucial to the collection. Proceedings of philosophical congresses and conferences are purchased on a selective basis.
Serials are also crucial to the collection.
The library buys or subscribes to electronic indexes and full-text databases that offer research value. Links to free websites are not actively collected together on the library's website.
The library does not actively collect large microform collections in philosophy.
Dissertations are acquired only on a highly selective basis.
Video and audio materials are added to the collection when appropriate.
Materials are located in standard locations throughout the library.
The rare book collection in Special Collections includes some books published in the 16th-18th centuries in philosophy.
Subject Area |
Collecting Levels |
|
| Aesthetics | ||
| Philosophy of Literature and Art | Graduate | |
| Philosophy of Architecture and Music | Undergraduate | |
| Epistemology | Undergraduate | |
| Ethics | ||
| Meta-ethics, normative ethics and applied ethics | Undergraduate | |
| History of Philosophy | ||
| General | Undergraduate | |
| Specific philosophers: Aristotle, Descartes, Frege, Hume, Kant, Locke, Leibnitz, Nietzsche, Plato, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sartre, Spinoza, Wittgenstein | Graduate | |
| Logic | ||
| Syllogistic | Graduate | |
| Mathematical | Graduate | |
| Modal, deontic, free, second order | Undergraduate | |
| Philosophy of Language | Graduate | |
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| Judaism and Christianity, arguments for God's existence | Graduate | |
| Eastern religions | Undergraduate | |
| Philosophy of Mathematics | Graduate | |
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| General (explanation, causality) | Undergraduate | |
| Philosophy of Space and Time, Philosophy of Physics | Undergraduate | |
| Social and Political Philosophy | ||
| Applied | Undergraduate | |
| Theoretical (justice, rights, social contract theory, utilitarianism) | Undergraduate | |
