Content area
Full Text
RR 2015/287
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - http://plato.stanford.edu/
Principal editor
Edward N. Zalta
Metaphysics Research Lab, Center for the Study of Language and Information (CSLI), Stanford University
Stanford, CA
1995-
URL: http://plato.stanford.edu/
Last visited June 2015
Gratis
Keywords Encyclopedias, Philosophy
Review DOI 10.1108/RR-06-2015-0155
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP), previously reviewed in these columns (RR 2001/311), is an online, open-access, "dynamic reference work" of original articles in all areas of philosophy. As an open-access resource, the content of the site is available to anyone with an Internet connection to read, link to and print. As a dynamic reference work, the articles are updated on a regular basis in response to advances in recent research. The site was created in 1995 by John Perry and Edward N. Zalta, researchers at Stanford University's Center for the Study of Language and Information. The current site is maintained by Zalta, along with six assistant editors who help with the management of the project and 135 topic editors who oversee the encyclopedia's 49 subject areas. All of the editors are affiliated with academic philosophy departments. The stated purpose of the project is to maintain an up-to-date, authoritative reference work suitable for use by professionals and students in the field of philosophy, as well as by others interested in authoritative discussions on philosophical topics. While the site is free, individual and library donations are accepted to assist in the ongoing maintenance of the project.
The homepage, revised since the previous review, includes a basic search tool, links to browse the site's contents, a brief description of the encyclopedia and information about current funding sources. Static banners at the top and bottom of each page, in addition to repeating the browse and search functions, provide links to learn about and support the project, as well as links to mirror sites in Australia and The Netherlands. The mirror sites synchronize to the Stanford server and...