VIC166H: Conducting Research in Philosophy

Major Resources for Conducting
Research in Philosophy

The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy
An online dictionary that you can consult for concise, authoritative definitions of unfamiliar names and terms in the field of philosophy, such as “eudaimonia.”

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
A peer-reviewed online encyclopedia covering nearly all areas of philosophy. It is a great place to begin your research and develop background knowledge of a particular philosopher or philosophical position.

Each entry has an extensive bibliography with recommended resources for further reading and potential sources for your presentation or essay.

The Oxford Handbook of Virtue
This volume provides a representative overview of philosophical scholarship on virtue. It is divided into seven parts: conceptualizations of virtue, historical and religious accounts, contemporary virtue ethics and theories of virtue, central concepts and issues, critical examinations, applied virtue ethics, and virtue epistemology.

Also available in-print at the E.J. Pratt Library.

Oxford Bibliographies: Virtue Ethics
A bibliography is a list of the books of an author or publisher, or on a specific subject. Oxford Bibliographies, compiled by scholars and librarians, contain extensive lists of annotated titles on many topics within the study of virtue ethics and moral theory. It is a great way to find authoritative sources on your topic.

Each subject contains an extensive introduction (which provides an overview of the topic) as well as a list of annotated titles of books, arranged by category.

LibrarySearch
A single integrated search platform for books, articles, periodicals, primary sources, and other materials.

It provides links to full texts of ebooks, journal articles, and book reviews (which can help you assess the relevance and quality of a particular title to the topic of your research).

Philosopher’s Index
The most current and comprehensive bibliography of scholarly research in philosophy. It is a great place to search for journal articles and book chapters when doing more in-depth research.

You can use it to find books and articles that have been written on a specific topic, or to see all the work done by a particular author.

Major Resources for Conducting Research in Other Disciplines

This course requires you to search a number of major research resources in various disciplines to find sources related to the topic of your presentation or essay.

You are also encouraged to support your arguments with Canadian examples and data whenever possible.

For instance, if your assigned topic is “the role of food banks,” consult the resources listed under both Canadian Studies and Food Studies, in addition to the materials outlined above.

• Canadian Studies
• Environmental Studies
• Food Studies
• Indigenous Studies
• History
• Political Science
• Sociology
• Women and Gender Studies.

Additional resources in other disciplines are listed on the (University of Toronto Libraries' website.

Citation & Style Guides

Chicago

• online: Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition
• print: Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition, Z253 .U69 2024.

MLA (Modern Language Association)

• online: MLA Handbook, 9th edition 
• print: MLA Handbook, 9th edition, PN147 .G53 2021.

APA (American Psychological Association)

• online: APA Formatting and Style Guide, Purdue University
• print: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition, BF76.7 .P83 2020.

Research & Writing Guidance

Virtual Reference Service

Research guidance is available via the virtual reference service, Ask a Librarian, open in the evenings and on weekends.

Email Inquiries

Basic questions related to navigating the libraries (such as locating a particular book title in the catalogue) can be sent via email (please keep your message brief).

Please use your @mail.utoronto.ca account, identifying the course (VIC166H) in the subject line. I aim to respond to messages in a timely manner, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. 

Research Consultation Service

Agatha Barc (Reader Services and Instruction Librarian) is available to meet either in-person or online to provide advice related to locating relevant sources on your chosen topic.

Consultations take place Monday to Friday, between 9:30 am and 4:00 pm. Advanced notice is required to request an appointment (excluding weekends and holidays).

It is important to request an appointment well in advance of the due date and as soon as you begin working on your presentation or final essay. Last-minute requests may not be accommodated.

Before requesting a consultation with the librarian, please complete the following:

• refine your assigned topic of research: you should have a clear sense of direction for how you will approach the subject of your presentation or essay; please don’t simply email with the title of your topic when you request an appointment
• conduct preliminary research using the resources outlined in this guide, and
• locate at least one scholarly source (such as a book or journal article) that is relevant to your chosen subject.

Please be prepared to discuss your findings with the librarian during your research consultation.

Writing Help

Victoria College Writing Centre
Students are highly encouraged to book an appointment at the Victoria College Writing Centre, where you can receive an individual consultation from a writing instructor.

Writing at the University of Toronto
Includes helpful advice on all aspects of academic writing, from incorporating and citing sources to revising your work. The resource also contains information on specific types of writing in numerous disciplines, including philosophy.