Abstract

This excellent book has the combined virtues of being useful not only to the student at the beginning and advanced levels but also to the researcher whose main interest may not be philosophy. It should quickly supplant the weaker efforts of Borchardt and Koren and, to a lesser degree, the short, though helpful, pamphlet by Charles Higgins. In some 1500 entries DeGeorge covers those tools which make possible research and bibliography in Western philosophy from ancient to contemporary times. It is arranged by form although it follows no standard list. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, histories, bibliographies, bibliographies of bibliographic biographies, periodicals and serials, guides to doctoral dissertations are all covered. Within each category the sub-divisions are made by "school," chronology, author, language, or geography. Since it was written primarily for English speaking users, English language sources are given the most space, with many exceptions for indispensable works such as the Repertoire and Ueberweg. The entries themselves are basically Library of Congress style giving author, title, publisher, date of publication, pagination and features of special interest. DeGeorge’s annotations, both descriptive and evaluative, are most helpful and prudent especially for the beginner or non-specialist librarian. The index deserves special note since its 2000 items, arranged in an alphabetical author/title/subject format, is designed to be used and not merely decorative. It acts as a unifier of material which may be otherwise spread about the book, but at the same time avoids the pitfall of having a too heavy load of references at any one entry. The introductions to the various sections are also quite useful and illuminating. Although prices are not included with the entries, a slight defect, the value of this book will surely outlast many changes in that area.—J. H.