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Librarian: Mura Ghosh

Email: mura.ghosh@london.ac.uk &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

Spanning all areas of philosophy, the collection dates back to the early 18th century and is particularly strong in modern philosophy, with extensive materials on individual philosophers from British, American (including Latin American), and Continental traditions. While the collection is predominantly in English, key works in Western European languages, particularly French and German, are also well represented, offering complete philosophical works from seminal authors across these traditions. 

The collection is especially robust in its exploration of the philosophy of specific subjects, such as the philosophy of science, political philosophy, and sociological theories. It also houses rich resources on the intellectual histories of Latin America and the Commonwealth. Of particular note is its growing emphasis on feminist philosophy, African and Indigenous philosophies, and environmental philosophy, reflecting the Library's commitment to broadening the scope of philosophical inquiry. Moreover, the collection is increasingly engaging with the digital humanities, with a particular focus on the digital empirical philosophy of science. This innovative approach utilizes computer-aided analyses to extract novel insights from large electronic datasets, contributing to a deeper understanding of how science is practiced and allowing for fresh interpretations of entire philosophical periods. 

The Special Collections further enhance the Library’s holdings, with the De Morgan Library standing out as a particularly valuable resource for those researching the history of philosophy. 

In addition to philosophy, religious studies and theology are represented across various Library collections, including History, Manuscript Studies, and Classics. Special strengths in Church History and Byzantine Studies are housed within the History Collection, while monographs on comparative religion are integrated into the Philosophy Collection. While the Library no longer actively collects theological works (with comprehensive material now available at the Heythrop College Library), it continues to complement its holdings with resources in early Christianity, the Reformation, heresy, and hagiography, through collaborations with institutions such as the Warburg Library and the Institute of Historical Research. 

The collection is primarily composed of research-level monographs, journals, and pamphlets, with substantial holdings in major reference works in both print and electronic formats. Many of the databases subscribed to by the Library support cutting-edge research in philosophy, ensuring comprehensive access to the latest developments in the field. 

Locating and accessing material 

Besides the materials located in our open access collections throughout the 4th to 7th floors, there are rich holdings to be investigated within our ²¹°ù³¦³ó¾±±¹±ð²õ ²¹²Ô»å special collections. 

Start exploring the collections through our  which includes details of all our printed and electronic collections. A selection of e-resources and databases related to this research strength guide are listed on our  on our LibGuides platform. 

Special collections and archive material must be  and consulted in the . Some of these collections are available as part of our e-Resources. They can be found on our list of  on our LibGuides platform.