PhilResources · Curated Library
A library for the careful reader.
A small, curated collection of readings, databases, and writing guides — assembled with Indian undergraduates in mind. Updated occasionally.
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On Method & Writing№ 01
How an analytic philosopher thinks, and how one writes about it.
- Jim Pryor, Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper. The single most useful free resource for an undergraduate beginning to write philosophy. Read online →
- H. P. Grice, Logic and Conversation, 1975. The cooperative principle and the conversational maxims, read as a practical guide to philosophical prose.
- Frank Jackson, From Metaphysics to Ethics, 1998. The Introduction and chapter 1 model what makes a philosophical argument crisp.
- Timothy Williamson, The Philosophy of Philosophy, 2007. The Preface and Introduction are essential reading on what philosophy is and is not.
- Joseph M. Williams, Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace. The best book on academic writing. The lessons on cohesion and on coherence are particularly useful.
- Strunk and White, The Elements of Style. Dated in places, but the chapters on sentence structure and word choice still repay reading.
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Models of Analytic Prose№ 02
Papers worth reading three times — once for content, once for argument, once for voice.
- Bertrand Russell, On Denoting, 1905. The model of definitional discipline.
- P. F. Strawson, On Referring, 1950. A model reply to Russell.
- G. E. Moore, Proof of an External World, 1939. For the opening pages alone.
- Thomas Nagel, What Is It Like to Be a Bat?, 1974. For structural anatomy.
- G. E. M. Anscombe, Modern Moral Philosophy, 1958. For unhedged prose voice.
- Philippa Foot, The Problem of Abortion and the Doctrine of the Double Effect, 1967. Same.
- David Lewis, Elusive Knowledge, 1996. A model first paragraph; a model paper.
- Bernard Williams, Internal and External Reasons, 1980. For an exemplary closing.
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Databases & References№ 03
Where to find what has been said on a problem.
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. The most reliable reference on most topics. Begin every research project here. plato.stanford.edu →
- PhilPapers. The largest searchable database of philosophical work. Essential for citation chaining. philpapers.org →
- JSTOR. Access to many journals. Many Indian universities have institutional access; check with your library.
- Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Complementary to the SEP, often more accessible. iep.utm.edu →
- PhilArchive. A free open-access archive of philosophy work. philarchive.org →
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Indian Philosophy№ 04
For those working in or with the classical Indian traditions.
- Bimal Krishna Matilal, The Character of Logic in India. The standard work on Indian logic for an analytic audience.
- J. N. Mohanty, Classical Indian Philosophy. A serious introduction.
- Jonardon Ganeri, Philosophy in Classical India. Treats the tradition philosophically rather than antiquarianly.
- The SEP entries on Nyāya, Mīmāṃsā, Buddhist philosophy, and Jain philosophy. Each entry has further reading.
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