Library Research Guide for Philosophy 145:
Contemporary Moral Issues
 http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/phil145_kl.html

 

Library Gateway Overview
Finding Background Material
Finding Books
Finding Periodical Articles
Finding Internet Resources
Evaluating Sources
Citing Sources
 Reference Help

Question? Ask a Librarian

Cornell University Library Gateway

The Cornell University Library Gateway is the Cornell University Library's homepage on the World Wide Web. The Gateway lists information about the CU Library and provides access to library resources and services.

Research Strategy and Process - An online tutorial offering instructions and suggestions on how to make your research skills and use of the Library more efficient and effective.

Return to Table of Contents

 

Finding Background Resources
Selected Subject Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

Philosophy

Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 1998. 4v.
(Olin Ref BJ63 .E44x 1998+)

A multi-disciplinary guide to the application of ethical principles in a wide variety of areas, including medicine, science, the environment, law, education, politics, business, media, social services, and society. Among the many specific issues addressed are animal research, infertility, biodiversity, vegetarianism, capital punishment, jury conduct, political correctness, gun control, broadcast journalism, disability rights, racism, and transsexualism. Signed entries are generally lengthy, and provide issue-specific glossaries as well as secondary references. A number of entries also define ethical theories and concepts.

Dictionary of Philosophy, Angeles, Peter A . New York: Barnes and Noble, 1981
(Uris Ref BJ 63 E56: also Olin stacks +BJ 63 E56)

"This dictionary presents informal and understandable definitions for important philosophical terms. Emphasis is on terms most commonly covered in beginning philosophy courses: epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, logic and the philosophies of religion and politics." (Preface) Includes and index of philosophers.

Encyclopedia of Ethics. Becker, Lawrence C. and Charlotte B. Becker, ed. .2nd ed., 3 vols New York: Routledge, 2001.
(Olin Ref BJ 63 E45x 2001+, also in Olin stacks BJ 63 E45x 2001+)

This encyclopedia covers a wide range of ethical issues in 435 articles. The articles are shorter than those in the Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics, but there are similarly broad survey articles with briefer articles on key concepts and biographical entries, as well. Most articles have a brief bibliography. There is an alphabetical list of articles and a thorough index. All articles are written and signed by experts in the field.

The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy. Blackburn, Simon. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.
(online through the Library Catalog; also Olin Ref B41 B62)

This dictionary is meant to be a "resource for anyone interested in general intellectual movements". (Preface) It contains definitions to over 3000 philosophical terms and those from related disciplines (theology, physics, psychology, sociology) "where such terminology is heavily embedded in philosophical discussion". (Preface) It also includes historical philosophers and scientists whose work brought about major changes in philosophical thought. The definitions contain extensive cross-references.

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Craig, Edward, ed. London; New York: Routledge, 1998.
(online through the Library Catalog; Olin Ref B 51 R68 1998 and the Electronic Text Center in Olin Library)

The Routledge Encyclopedia provides an excellent update to the older Encyclopedia of Philosophy. It covers a wide range of philosophical topics in 9 vols., (the tenth volume is the index) containing just over 2,000 signed entries. There are many more entries than in the older encyclopedia, with much better coverage of non-Western philosophy and more biographical entries. Survey articles are not as comprehensive, however. The Routledge Encyclopedia's coverage of ethics is noticeably better, making this a first choice for ethicists. Articles are followed by brief bibliographies. An excellent resource.

The Online version of the 10-volume Routledge encyclopedia of philosophy can be browsed by philosophical themes, philosophies, historical periods, and religions. Full text entries can be searched by keyword, title, contributor, or bibliography.

The Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Edwards, Paul, ed. . 8 vols. New York: MacMillan, l967; Suppl. 1996.
(Uris Ref +B 51 E56; also Olin Ref and Mann Ref)

The most comprehensive source of philosophical information. The Encyclopedia discusses Eastern and Western philosophy and deals with ancient, medieval, and modern philosophy. The work contains nearly 1,500 lengthy articles of value for the specialist as well as for the beginner.

Public Policy

Genetic Engineering. Yount, Lisa (ed). Detroit : Thomson Gale, c2002.
(Mann Library QH442 .G44312 2002)

From genetically modified foods to human cloning, aspects of genetic engineering (modifying genes of living things in the laboratory) stir up strong feelings and lively debate. This timely anthology presents overviews and pro and con viewpoints on such subjects as genetic engineering in agriculture, engineering of human genes, and regulation of genetic engineering. Part of the Current Controversies Series.

CQ electronic library. CQ Press
(Online access to entire collection through Find Databases, CQ Research available in print at Uris Library Reference H35 .E23, CQ Weekly available in print at Olin Library Reference JK1 .C661 +)

Congressional Quarterly's authoritative coverage of public affairs includes the CQ Researcher, CQ Weekly, CQ Public Affairs Collection and the CQ Voting and Elections Collection. Includes increased "All CQEL Search" functionality to search across subscribed collections.

Taking Sides. Clashing Views on Controversial Bioethical Issues . Levine, Carol (editor and selector). Guilford, Conn. : Dushkin Pub. Group, c1997.
(Uris Library Reference BJ57 .T13 1997)

This debate-style reader is designed to explore controversies in bioethics. The "yes" and "no" readings, which represent the arguments of leading philosophers and social commentators, discuss topics such as death and dying; choices in reproduction; children and bioethics and genetics. Return to Table of Contents

 

FINDING BOOKS

Connect to the Cornell University Library Catalog

The Cornell University Library Catalog includes the holdings of all of the libraries on the Ithaca campus, in addition to those of the Geneva Experiment Station. (The Medical College Library, located in New York City, has a separate catalog.) The catalog contains records for books, computer files, government documents, manuscripts and archives, maps, musical scores, periodicals, serials, sound recordings, and visual materials received and cataloged since 1973. There are also records for most pre-1973 items, and for items that are on order or in process.
Understanding Library of Congress Call Numbers

Library of Congress Classification

The Cornell University Library uses Library of Congress subject headings as the standard for subject searching. Unlike searching by keyword, where any term or wording of a topic can be entered into the computer, subject searching requires you to use the exact wording of an official Library of Congress subject heading in order to retrieve search results.

Return to Table of Contents

 

FINDING PERIODICAL ARTICLES

Periodical indexes identify and locate articles in magazines, journals and newspapers. Periodical indexes provide the authors, titles, and sometimes abstracts, of relevant articles, along with the name of the periodical, volume, pages and date. Some online periodical indexes also provide the full-text of the article. When full-text articles are not provided, use the Cornell Library Catalog to determine which library owns the periodicals you need. For the complete list of indexes see Find Databases
A selected list of indexes are below:

Multidisciplinary:

AltPressIndex Baltimore, MD : Alternative Press Center, [19--]-
Find Databases or Library Catalog

Indexes journals covering cultural, economic, political, and social change. Coverage is international and interdisciplinary, with citations drawn from alternative, radical, and left periodicals, newspapers and magazines. Includes selected abstracts from research journals. Subjects covered include anarchism, democracy, ecology, feminism, gay and lesbian issues, indigenous peoples, labor, national liberation, and socialism.

Left Index Baltimore, Maryland : National Information Services Corporation, 2000-
Find Databases or Library Catalog

Comprehensive guide to the diversity of literature on the left, with a primary emphasis on political, economic, social and culturally engaged scholarship inside and outside academia. A secondary emphasis is on significant but little known sources of news and ideas. Topics covered include the labor movement, ecology & environment, race & ethnicity, social & cultural theory, sociology, art & aesthetics, philosophy, history, education, law, and globalization.

LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe Dayton, Ohio : LEXIS-NEXIS, 1997-
Find Databases or Library Catalog

An online database created for lawyers, businesses, and broadcast and print news organizations. It contains the full text of a number of large- and medium-size newspapers; transcripts of broadcast news shows, interviews, and press conferences; local and state business publications; wire services; some popular magazines; and legal materials. Since it is updated daily, it is an excellent index to current topics and events, as well as to reviews of plays, books, and films.

PAIS international New York : Public Affairs Information Service 1972-
Find Databases or Library Catalog

Contains citations to public policy literature of economics, government, law, international business, political science, public administration, and other social sciences. It includes references to journal articles, books, government documents, reports and pamphlets in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese.

PCI: Periodicals Contents Index Alexandria, VA : Chadwyck-Healey
Find Databases or Library Catalog

Electronic index to thousands of periodicals in the humanities and social sciences, covering each periodical from its first issue. Every article is indexed. The scope is international, including journals in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and other languages.

Periodical Abstracts Ann Arbor : UMI, 1986-
Find Databases or Library Catalog

Indexes and abstracts over 1600 general interest magazines and scholarly journals including all the magazines in Reader's Guide and most of the scholarly journals from Social Sciences Index, Humanities Index, General Science Index. It also includes citations and abstracts to selected television and radio programs. The Library subscribes to most of the periodicals indexed. Holdings can be found easily since the titles are linked to the online catalog. The full text of some transcripts from the television and radio programs can be found by searching the Transcript Files on LEXIS/NEXIS Academic Universe.

Subject Specific:

GenderWatch Stamford, CT : Softline Information, 1970-
Find Databases or Library Catalog

GenderWatch is a full text database of publications that focus on the impact of gender across a broad spectrum of subject areas. The database provides in-depth coverage of the subjects that are uniquely central to women's lives, including family, childbrith, birth control, daycare, domestic abuse, work and the workplace, sexual harassment, aging, aging parents, body image, eating disorders and social and societal roles.

Philosopher's Index Bowling Green, Ohio : Philosopher's Information Center, 1940-
Find Databases or Library Catalog

Provides indexing and abstracts from books and many journals on philosophy and related interdisciplinary fields published in the U.S. and the Western World. Coverage is from 1940 to the present for U.S. materials, and 1967 to the present for non-U.S. references.

Sociological Abstract New York : Sociological Abstracts, Inc., 1952-
Find Databases or Library Catalog

Indexes approximately 200 periodicals in English and some foreign languages. Covers most areas of sociology and anthropology. Citations are arranged by subject areas, such as "divorce", "family", "women". Each issue includes subject and author indexes, which are cumulated annually. Supplements to Sociological Abstracts contain abstracts of papers presented at conferences. Currently issued five times per year.


Electronic Journal Collection:

JSTOR : the scholarly journal archive New York, N.Y. : JSTOR, c1996-
Find Databases or Library Catalog

JSTOR is a fully-searchable database containing the back issues of several hundred scholarly journals in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, music, ecology and botany, business and other fields. It includes the following collections: Arts & sciences I, II and III, General science, Ecology and botany, Business, Language and literature.

Project MUSE Baltimore, MD : Johns Hopkins University Press, c1995-
Find Databases or Library Catalog

Searchable database that provides access to the full text of journals published by Johns Hopkins University Press and other university presses in the humanities, social sciences, and mathematics. Covers such fields as literature and criticism, history, the visual and performing arts, cultural studies, education, political science, gender studies, and others.

For more databases see Find Databases.

Return to Table of Contents

FINDING INTERNET RESOURCES
Search Engines and Subject Guides

Use search engines or Internet subject guides to find resources or sites on the World Wide Web on your topic. Search Engines are software that allow you to search the contents of web pages and Subject Guides are web pages that use menus and lists to sort and classify web sites.

Question and evaluate the information that you find on web pages. As you would do with books and journal articles, look to see who is responsible for producing the web page or site that you are accessing. How objective is the information? How accurate or truthful? How authoritative? Go to the Evaluating Sources section of this page for more information on how to assess the web sites you have accessed.

Return to Table of Contents

 

EVALUATING SOURCES

Evaluating the sources you find is a crucial step in the process of library research. The questions you ask about books, periodical articles, or multimedia sources are similar whether you're looking at a citation to the item or have the item in hand.

How to write an annotated bibliography lists the steps for creating and give an example of an annotated bibliography.

How to Critically Analyze Information Sources lists some of the critical questions you should ask when you consider the appropriateness of a particular book, article, media resource, or Web site for your research.

Distinguishing Scholarly from Non-Scholarly Periodicals: A Checklist of Criteria shows how to evaluate periodicals by looking at their format, intended audience, and appearance.

Evaluating Web Resources lists ways to analyze the Web sites you find.

Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Sites offers a table of suggestions.

For additional suggestions specific to Web sites, see Evaluating Web Sites: Criteria and Tools.

Return to Table of Contents

CITING SOURCES

APA citation style
(American Pyschological Association)

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.)

Africana, Hotel, Management, Olin, and Uris Libraries
BF 76.7 .P83x 2001x
(located at the Reference Desks)

Also in ILR and Mann Reference at BF 76.7 .A51 2001.

APA citation style (CUL Gateway Help pages)

APA Reference Examples for Electronic Source Materials (Excerpted from the 5th edition of the Publication Manual)

APAStyle.org (APA's web site)

MLA citation style
 (Modern Language Association)

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (6th ed.)

Olin and Uris Libraries Z253 .M68 2003
(located at the Reference Desks)

MLA citation style (CUL Gateway Help pages)

MLA Style (MLA's web site)

 

Cornell University Code of Academic Integrity

Return to Table of Contents

 

Research and Reference Help

 

Return to Table of Contents

July 28, 2004
Paul McMillin - phm1 at cornell.edu
Reference Librarian
Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853
Information and reference: 607-255-4144, okuref@cornell.edu
Circulation: (Olin) 607-255-4245, (Uris) 607-255-3537, okucirc@cornell.edu