Philosophy Subject Guide
Biographical Sources
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There are multiple sources of information about the major philosophers. The encyclopedias and dictionaries noted above, with few exceptions, contain biographical data as do general encyclopedias and collective biographical sources. Use the Libraries' online catalog and search for books on individual philosophers by subject, e.g. Kant, Emmanuel; Marx, Karl.
ONE way to identify books that contain biographical material is to use the Catalog Search box with the drop down menu set on Subject: Philosophers. This search, without limitations, identifies over 1500 titles.
To review the actual Library of Congress subject headings and subdivisions, use the Catalog entry at the top of the Libraries home page to link to our classic catalog WestCat. Use the basic search with the menu set on subject and type in Philosophers. A detailed listing of all subject headings on philosophers will be displayed. If all subdivisions under Philosophers are consulted, there are over 100 subject headings and several hundred titles about philosophers. One subdivision is "Philosophers Biography" that identifies collective biographies. Some exemplary titles of collective biography are:
A Companion to the Philosophers
B 72 .C595 1999 (Ref)
Dictionary of 18th Century British Philosophers
B 1301 .D527x 1999 (Ref) More info
Great Thinkers A-Z
More info
One Hundred Twentieth-Century Philosophers
B 804 .O55 1998 (Ref)
Women Philosophers: A Bio-Critical Source Book
B 105 .W6 K47 1989 (Ref)