Philosophy, Logic & Scientific Method

Introduction
Selection criteria

• General scope
• Geographical area and language
• Format

Collection strengths

• Archives
• Special collections

Collection development review for Philosophy, Logic & Scientific Method

Introduction

The general policy for Philosophy is to collect to research level in the areas of political, economic and moral philosophy, with the intention of as comprehensive a coverage as resources allow. Research level is defined as one where independent research with the published sources can be pursued. For Logic and Scientific Method the Library does not aim to have a comprehensive research collection, but will acquire material which reflects and supports departmental research interests. Suggestions from staff for research material in these areas are therefore welcome.

The policy for developing the collections in Philosophy needs to be seen within the context of the complete acquisitions policy. The interdisciplinary nature of the social sciences and its publications means that subject boundaries cannot always be easily determined and described in isolation. Exclusions and qualifications to this policy are mentioned below and in the General Policy Statement: see Principles of collection policy and Criteria for selection.

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Selection criteria

General scope

An outline is given below, but in general terms the Library collects material on philosophy as it relates to the social sciences, particularly the 'core areas' of politics, economics and social studies. For breadth of coverage in other aspects of philosophy the Library relies on the collections of the University Library, Senate House.

The following is an outline of the subject scope and coverage of collecting policy for Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method:

Research level
History of philosophy. From ancient Greece to present. Including critical editions of the major philosophers.
Political philosophy.
Moral philosophy. Bioethics.
Philosophy of social science.
Philosophy of economics.
Science and society.
International critical theory. Critical methodologies.

Selectively to research level
Philosophy of mathematics
Logic
Scientific method
History and philosophy of science and technology

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Geographical area and language

The geographical scope of the philosophy collections is focused principally on Europe and the Western world. Material is collected in all major European languages. Works in non-European languages are not normally acquired.

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Format

No distinction is made regarding format of material. The Library will therefore collect relevant material in print, microform, video, electronic format (eg CD-ROM, Electronic journals).

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Collection strengths

Archives

Archives
Among the most important archive collections relating to Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method are the following:

Mill Taylor
These are the papers of the philosophers and political economists James Mill (1773-1836) and John Stuart Mill (1806-1883), of J.S.Mill's wife and collaborator Harriet Taylor and of her daughter, Helen Taylor the actress and suffragist.

Lakatos
These are the papers of Imre Lakatos (1922-1974), Born in Hungary and settled in England after the Revolution of 1956. He was Professor of Logic with special reference to the Philosophy of Mathematics at LSE from 1969 to 1974.

The Archive is organised around the published and unpublished papers. There is a large and interesting philosophical correspondence and papers on the organisation of the 1965 International Colloquium for the Philosophy of Science. Please see the Archives Division's collection policy.

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Special collections

Lakatos.
A collection of books from the library of Imre Lakatos covering the history and philosophy of science.

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Collection development policy review for Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method

This collection development policy will be reviewed on a regular basis in the light of the following: developments in teaching, the interests of the Department and other departments in the School, and relationships with other libraries with whom collaborative arrangements exist. Such reviews will be conducted in co-operation with the Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method.

Reviewed 02/05

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