Getting Started - Philosophy - Library Research Guides at Austin Community College

Finding a topic

Need help getting started with your paper? Use this study guide to get ideas and to learn how to develop your topic.

Philosophy Video of the Month

This video is one of over 670 philosophy videos now available in Films on Demand

Professor Damon Horowitz describes his philosophy student, Tony, who at age 16 committed murder.

Philosophy

Austin Community College is "one of the few community colleges in the nation to offer an associate’s degree in philosophy!" Learn about the Philosophy Department's vibrant program and the courses offered on campus and online. ACC Libraries purchase materials to support students and faculty in these courses:

PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy

PHIL 2303 Logic

PHIL 2306 Ethics

PHIL 2307 Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy

PHIL 2316 Ancient Philosophy

PHIL 2317 Modern Philosophy

PHIL 2321 Philosophy of Religion

ACC also offers PHIL 1304 Introduction to Comparative Religion.

Types of sources

There are several major types of information sources available to students through the ACC Library in print and digital form. The tabs along the top of the page provide details on the different types of resources listed below:

Books	You will find a large selection of philosophy books in our book collection. A book can provide detailed background and in-depth historical information about any given topic.
Reference	This covers encyclopedias, atlases, and other resources that are referred to for specific information. Go to these for definitions, shorter explanations, historical and biographical sketches, background or overviews, and statistical data.
Articles	Articles from journals, magazines, and newspapers (periodicals) are integral sources for current reviews, research, and criticism on recently published works. ACC e-resources can help connect you to these articles.
Websites	The internet provides a vast array of good information from reputable organizations, professional associations, government entities, and scholars. However, there is a lot of unreliable information on the Web, so evaluate sources and content critically.