Michigan State University

Collection Development Policy Statement: Philosophy

Analysis of the Subject Field

A. Chronology of the subject:

No emphases or restrictions apply.

B. Languages of resources collected:

There are not exclusions based solely on language, although most texts are acquired in English.

C. Geography of the subject:

There are no restrictions that are based solely on geography. The collection retains its historical emphasis on western thought (Greco-Roman, European, Anglo-American), although there is a greater emphasis to include non-Western and interdisciplinary perspectives.

D. Format the resources collected:

There are no current restrictions. Ebooks and electronic databases are actively being collected for ease of use.  Significant legacy microfilm series include pre-1600 collections in German, French, Italian and Dutch as well as the pre-1800 collections in English, and pre-1700 publications in French. Additionally some thematic microform collections are noteworthy, such as French Revolutionary Pamphlets, History of Ideas in Europe, Rousseauism: 1788-1797, and Papers and Manuscripts of Ludwig Wittgenstein. In general microforms will not be added unless specifically requested or not available in other, more accessible formats. Online resources are collected, such as the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 

E. Date of publication of resources collected:

Date of publication is not restricted