Skip to Main Content
UCF Libraries Home

Philosophy

This research guide identifies materials for basic and advanced research in philosophy. It lists a variety of sources, including databases, reference works, and Internet sites useful for the study of philosophy.

Browse by Call Number

Most materials in the UCF Libraries are arranged according to the Library of Congress Classification System. Philosophical materials generally are classified in the B’s:

Call Number Subject
B Philosophy (General)
BC Logic
BD Speculative Philosophy
BH Aesthetics
BJ Ethics

Primo: The UCF Libraries Catalog

Primo Search: The default tab on the Librarie' homepage allows researchers to locate books, multimedia (e.g., DVDs, CDs, streaming videos), journal titles, and other materials owned by the UCF Libraries.

Basic Searching:

  • To locate UCF materials only, change on the drop-down menu labeled "- Pick search scope -," to "Library Catalog."
  • "Everything in Primo" searches the statewide catalog for all Florida publicly-supported university and college libraries (e.g., University of Florida, Florida International University).
  • Primo is not recommended as a tool for locating journal articles, as it encompasses roughly only  50% of the UCF Libraries' journal databases; instead, use a subject-specific database to identify journal articles on a topic.

 

Subject Heading Searching: Requires use of Library of Congress subject headings. The following headings suggest the range of topics that may be pursued:
 

Keyword Searching: Useful if you are unsure of the correct Library of Congress subject heading. Try using two or three of the most significant words from the topic for which you are searching. A keyword search will find all occurrences of a word in a library catalog or a database. What follows are some examples of keyword searches:

  • music and wom#n [finds: woman or women]
  • child* [finds: child, child's, children]
  • music theory ["and" implied between words]
  • city OR cities [finds: either word]
 

Format Limit: To find music scores or multimedia (e.g., CDs, DVDs, videocassettes, etc.), go to the Advanced Search screen. Under "Material Type" is a drop-down menu for format , such as "Scores" or "Video":

ARC: Automated Retrieval Center

Over 80% of the UCF Libraries materials (e.g., books, DVDs, Blu-rays) have been transferred into the Automatic Retrieval Center, or ARC for short. The ARC is located behind the Hitt Library and it is not accessible to patrons. All materials in this guide that have been designated "Main Library ARC General Collection" are in the ARC. Therefore, materials located in the ARC need to be requested. Here's an overview of how that process works.

Note in the examples above that every title says "Available at UCF ARC Main..." To initiate a request, click on the title look for the "Sign in to see request options" on the record page. For example: 

We can see from this record that the item is in place and available to be requested by clicking the sign in option where you'll enter your NID and your NID password. Once you do that, you'll be directed to a page to complete your request:

The final step is to select a pickup location from the menu:

Then submit your request. Requests placed during hours of operation are generally filled in 15-20 minutes. You'll receive an email notification once your book is ready and it will be held at the location you selected for one week.

For more information about the ARC, see this guide, which includes a video of the ARC in action.

Other Catalogs of Interest

A consortium of North American university, college, and independent research libraries that acquires and preserves traditional and digital resources for research and teaching and makes them available to member institutions though interlibrary loan and electronic delivery. The UCF Libraries are a member of CRL.
 
https://books.google.com
Searchable by keyword for the full text of some books, magazines, and newspapers.
 
A catalog of library collections from the U.S. and around the world. It is the world's most comprehensive bibliography, with millions of records for books, periodicals, and other materials in 370 languages and covering information from 4,000 years of knowledge. It includes RLIN (Research Libraries Information Network) catalogs and the Union List of Periodicals.

Interlibrary Loan

The Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service enables current UCF students, faculty, and staff to borrow materials — such as books and journal articles — from other libraries that are not available at the UCF Libraries.