ALICE T. COPELAND Philosophy Journals as Current Book Selection Guides

In an effort to determine the adequacy of book review coverage in the fields of philosophy, thirteen philosophy journals were studied for a period of one year, and the books reviewed in them tabulated. These reviews were also correlated with library review media and compared with reviews during the same period in the Library Journal and Choice. Results indicate that comprehensive coverage is available only in the philosophy journals.

''J UST NAMING SOME of the topics COV- assumed between department and li­ ered by the Dewey classification in the brary, a broad interest on the part of field of philosophy suggests a major the department cannot necessarily be problem: ontology, cosmology, episte­ assumed, because, although one might mology, teleology, positivism, nominal­ hope that this would be the case, de­ ism . . . philosophy is a very technical partments do change, and the subject subject, indeed."1 In so saying, Carter specialty of its present members must and. Bonk, in their book, Building Li­ not unbalance the collection as a whole. brary Collections, have put their fingers In other words, if a department becomes on the crux of the selection problem in heavy with men interested in the phi­ the field of philosophy. losophy of science, the librarian's job The college or university librarian becomes that of making sure that the who is expected to take full responsi­ collection includes works in aesthetics bility for the completeness of a collec­ and philosophy of religion. The librarian tion in philosophy, without help from can never abdicate responsibility for a the departmental specialists in the field, collection in a subject field, however has a problem indeed. Not only are the esoteric and technical that field might areas within the field many and diverse, be; he must keep abreast of the subject but also the terminology itself demands matter as best he can and keep the gen­ intimate knowledge of this complex dis­ eral collection in order. cipline. Common sense is not enough It is with this purpose in. mind that the here, in a field where even terminologies current reviewing tools available in the such as "realism" and "idealism" have field of philosophy were analyzed; first meanings totally different from ordinary in terms of the journals themselves, and usage. secondly in terms of a study of the books The current tools discussed in this reviewed in them. Many of these jour­ paper are those which the librarian nals cover foreign books, some even hav­ might regularly use to fill out the collec­ ing reviews written in foreign languages; tion. Even if a good relationship were the journals are published all over the world. Some of the reviews, however, 1 Mary Duncan Carter and Wallace John Bonk, Building Library Collections (New York: Scarecrow lend themselves more to philosophical Press, 1959), p. 96. ' debate than to use as a library tool. Miss Copeland is Catalog Librarian, In all cases, of course, the reviewing Drew University, Madison, New Jersey. tool is only as good as the specific re- I 455 456 I College & Research Libraries • November, 1966 viewer. Reviews vary from person to per­ for Aesthetics at Wayne State Univer­ son and from topic to topic; generaliza­ sity, the. College of Liberal Arts, the tion is almost impossible. The ] ournal of University Press, and the Cleveland Philosophy, for example, publishes only Museum of Art. The American Society first-rate philosophical papers, but in the for Aesthetics was «organized in 1942 for review columns one has to decide the advancement of philosophical and whether a particular philosopher is writ­ scientific studies of the arts and related ing a first-rate review or whether he is fields." This journal is included in society grinding his own philosophical ax. membership. Another problem in using professional The 1964 fall issue was completely journals for current book selection is devoted to articles in honor of the form­ that often books are reviewed in them er editor of the journal and had no book long after the book is actually published. reviews. The winter issue included long Not all are guilty of an undue time lag signed reviews with the name of the and in the long run, a book that is worth college of the reviewer. It included re­ having and which had not been ordered viewers from the Cleveland Museum of upon publication is worth· having later. Art. Because of this time lag, and because About fifteen books are reviewed in of the difficulty in reading all of the an issue, only one of which in the winter journals in all areas for which a librarian issue was strictly a philosophy book; the finds himself responsible, would the li­ others were in art and literature. It may brarian be justified in relying solely on be that this journal would not be valu­ library reviewing tools to fill out the able in the field of philosophy, depend­ collection in philosophy? In order to an­ ing upon the arrangement of courses in swer this question a comparison was aesthetics in the particular school. made of the coverage of books reviewed Journal of Symbolic Logic. Published in philosophy journals with those re­ quarterly by the Association for Sym­ viewed in two widely used library tools, bolic Logic, Inc., with support from Library Journal and Choice. Also noted UNESCO through ICSO and from in­ are the journals which are covered by stitutional members. It comes out three Book Review Digest ( BRD), Book Re­ times a year, in March, June, and Sep­ view Index ( BRI ) , and the Index to tember. Book Reviews in the Humanities (IBRH). It reviews both books and journal ar­ It is interesting to note the comment by ticles. The reviews are in English, but Frances J. Kirschenbaum that of all the they include articles from foreign lan­ subjects indexed in the Index to Book guage periodicals. Each issue contains Reviews in the Humanities. «Only the reviews of four or five books which are field of philosophy is at present well scattered among reviews of articles. Cur­ covered."2 The books referred to as re­ rent bibliographies of individual authors viewed in the philosophy journals were are compiled, e.g. Ernest Nagel had a reviewed in 1964 only, thus giving a sur­ listing of nine books and articles. vey of one complete year's coverage. The Septemher issue was devoted to abstracts of papers given at the annual NOTES ON REVIEWING IN THE meeting of the Association and had no PlnLOSOPHY JOURNALS reviews. This is a technical field and has Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criti­ technical reviews. Cross references from cism. Published quarterly (two issues journal articles abound. only in 1964) by the American Society I ournal of the History of Philosophy. Published twice a year by the University 2 Frances J. Kirschenbaum, "Periodicals in the Hu­ manities," Library Trends, X (January 1962), 326. of California Press. «The Journal of the Philosophy Journals as Current Book Selection Guides I 457

History of Philosophy is an international a year, January, May, October, by the journal which publishes articles, notes, Leicester University Press. discussions, and reviews about the his­ This is the only journal devoted ex­ tory of western philosophy, broadly con­ clusively to book reviews. It averages ceived. . . . Publishes material in Eng­ about twenty-three an issue. Shorter ar­ lish, French and German." And hopes ticles tend to be more to the point of for Spanish and Italian in the future. the book-are less apt to be philosoph­ This journal has long signed reviews, ical dissertations. occasionally in French. It is apt to have The journal lists collections separately, long quotations from the book in the although without review, at the end. It original language even though the re­ tends to be up-to-date, even the January view may be in English. 1964 issue had only 1963 books. The The section called Book Notes has October issue reviewed only 1964 books. capsule annotations for about four books The Philosophical Review ( IBRH) per issue. "New Translations" lists and ( BRI contemplated). Quarterly journal, annotates about six. "New Editions" has edited by the Sage School of Philosophy, about nine. It also contains a section Cornell University. Published January, called "Books Received" which lists April, July, and October. many more but without comment. This is a first-class journal with high Journal of Philosophy (BRD, BRI, reviewing standards. Articles are signed IBRH). This is one of the leading jour­ and university origin is given-some of nals in the field, published fortnightly the outstanding names in American and at Columbia by the Journal of Philos­ British philosophy appear in these pages. ophy, Inc. (every four weeks in July and Mostly American books are reviewed, August). The October and November is­ with a sprinkling of British and French sues contained agenda and papers for imprints in the year 1964. Most of the the American Philosophical Association books which were reviewed in 1964 were meetings. Some issues have no reviews; published in 1962. others have one or two. All are long, The section entitled "Books Received" signed philosophical reviews. Occasional gives current listing of some one hun­ sections list "New Books" with the dred books per issue. length varying from nine to fifty of the For the most part these are long crit­ unannotated lists. February 27 issue list­ ical articles, often consisting of philo­ ed "Paperbacks, Reprints, and Anthol­ sophical critiques on the part of the re­ ogies"-four of them; October 29 cited viewer. The use of regular size print in "Reprints and Selected Writings." the Book Review section makes it easier Mind ( IBRH). "A Quarterly Review to use. of Psychology and Philosophy" edited by The Philosophical Quarterly ( IBRH). Gilbert Ryle at Oxford. Published quar­ Published by the University of St. An­ terly, January, April, July, and October. drews for the Scots Philosophical Club. "New Books" contains long signed re­ Four times a year: January, April, July, views, almost exclusively in philosophy. and October. It includes foreign language books, al­ The January issue was devoted to though they are reviewed in English. books on Greek philosophy, both articles ''Received Also" section is one which and book reviews. Other issues covered lists about sixty-six books, a larger per­ all areas and many countries, including centage of which are in psychology than foreign language books. are the reviews, and which also includes Most of the books included in the 1964 foreign language books. issues were published in 1962, a few in Philosophical Books. Issued three times 1963. It has a "Books Received" section 458 I College & Research Libraries • November, 1966

with some one hundred current books. The books reviewed in 1964 were from The reviews are long, critical, and 1960-1963. They included authors and signed. publishers from all over the world, with Philosophy ( IBRH) . The Journal of a heavy emphasis on the Far East. the Royal-Institutes of Philosophy. Pub­ A section called "Current Periodicals" lished quarterly by Macmillan (Jour­ lists articles in various journals within nals) Ltd., London. the field of Oriental and comparative Fewer books were reviewed than has philosophy. Occasionally a full table of been the case in other journals (about contents is published. Titles in Chinese three to five an issue) but all were 1963 and Japanese are transliterated. It has imprints in the year 1964. "Books Re­ a helpful bibliography of foreign jour­ ceived" varies from thirteen to eighty­ nals, although only the city is given and four. These are signed articles, mostly not the name of the publisher. Journals British and American books, some others. are included from Calcutta, Bologna, Prices are given in British currency even Madras, Tokyo, etc. if the books are published in America. The October issue had a "News and Philosophy and Phenomenological Re­ Notes" section which gave a bibliog­ search ( IBRH). "A Quarterly Journal" raphy of Chinese philosophy in Ger­ but 1964 had only two iss sues: Septem­ many since 1950. It did not include Ger­ ber and December-a symptom of the mans working in America. times as regards journals. Published for This would be very helpful in a col­ the International Phenomenological Soci­ lege or university with many foreign ety by the University of Buffalo Founda­ students, or with a particularly strong tion, Inc. department of eastern philosophy. This tends to be more up-to-date than Philosophy of Science (IBRH) (BRD) some of the other journals-almost all of ( BRI contemplated). Official Journal of the books reviewed in 1964 were pub­ the Philosophy of Science Association. lished in 1963. The reviews consist of Published quarterly by the St. Catherine short, signed articles. They are perhaps Press, Bruges, Belgium, although an less apt to be philosophical exegeses American publication-it is sponsored by than book reviews. It contains between the Institute for the Unity of Science twenty-three and twenty-five an issue. and by Section L bf the AAAS, with All books reviewed were American Richard Rudner of Washington U niver­ except for two French books in the sec­ sity, St. Louis, as the editor. ond issue. The January issue had no book re­ Philosophy East and W es.t. A quarter­ views, but contained short abstracts ly journal of Oriental and comparative from Inquiry, and the British Journal for thought. Published by the University of Philosophy of Science, 1962-63, which in­ Hawaii Press. "Articles in the field of cluded two "Review Discussions" and Oriental and East-West comparative two recommended books on the subject. philosophy from all parts of the world." The April issue had seven book reviews; Articles are in English; editors have of­ none in July. The October issue had not fered to translate if the original author been received at the time of this study. cannot. Review of Metaphysics ( IBRH). "The "Books reviewed are limited to those Review of Metaphysics is devoted to the in the field of Oriental and comparative promotion of technically competent philosophy." It contains about four or definitive contributions to philosophical five per issue. "Books Received" are not knowledge. It is not associated with any so limited, but most of them do pertain school or group, not the organ of any to these fields. It lists about forty books association or institution; it is interested an issue. in persistent, resolute inquiries into root Philosophy I ournals as Current Book Selection Guides I 459 questions, regardless of the writer's af­ entries. Some were listed in two jour­ filiations." A list of sustaining institu­ nals, others in three or four, but none in tions, some thirty of them, is given on more than four. Two of these journals, the back. Aesthetics and Philosophy East and A somewhat different approach is giv­ West, had no books at all that were list­ en to the reviewing section. It consists ed in our journals of philosophy, al­ of summaries and comments, a brief though two of the twenty-one books in resume, report or criticism written not Philosophy East and West were listed in by outside reviewers but by members Library I ournal. of the staff, with some outside help. A breakdown of the division of the They are short concise comments, much listings is given in Table 1. As can be more like annotations than reviews. They seen, Philosophical Books is the only one review mostly books in 1963 or 1964 be­ that has a large percentage covered in cause of this, and are therefore more up­ other journals, thirty-six as compared to to-date. Each volume reviews some forty twenty-seven which are covered only in to eighty books. it. It must be remembered, however, that There is a section on doctoral disserta­ this is strictly a reviewing journal, with tions, 1964, listing by university the short annotations which are in genera] name, title, and advisor of each in the very helpful. To disregard it because the field of philosophy. majority of books are covered in other A section called "Critical Studies" journals would be both to discard a use­ gives long essays on previously pub­ ful tool as well as to neglect the twenty­ lished books and philosophers. Meta­ seven books that are not covered else­ physics is a fairly broad term and a few where. books included are by Sartre, Bonhoef­ A second point to consider is how fer, T. S. EHot and C. S. Lewis, whom many of these journals are covered in we tend to think of primarily in connec­ the regularly used library reviewing tion with other fields. tools. Since philosophy journals are so technical in their presentation for the CoMPARATIVE ANALYSIS most part, would it not be helpful to The philosophy journals published in find reviews in, for instance, Library 1964 contained reviews of 493 books. Of I ournal? Another gain would supposedly these, 336 were listed in one journal be the fact that LI and other general only, leaving 157 which were duplicate tools come out more promptly with their

TABLE 1. CoMPARISON oF BooKs REVIEWED IN PHILOSOPHY JouRNALS, 1964

Single Two Three Four Journal Journal Journals Journals Journals Total

Aesthetics 15 ...... 15 History of Philosophy 41 2 2 1 46 Journal of Philosophy 19 8 2 2 31 Mind. . . . . 17 7 3 1 28 Philosophical Books . 27 26 8 2 63 Philosophical Review 21 8 6 ...... 35 Philosophical Quarterly 30 12 5 1 48 Philosophy 8 4 3 2 17 Phil. and Phen. Research 24 11 8 1 44 Phil. East and West 21 ...... 21 Phil. of Science . . . 5 2 1 ...... 8 Review of Metaphysics . 99 20 4 ...... 123 Symbolic Logic 9 5 ...... 14

Totals 336 105 42 10 493 460 I College & Research Libraries • November, 1966

book reviews, and one could avoid the philosophy would have been. covered in time lag of the philosophy journals. To earlier issues of Choice, had it been pub­ check on this possibility the philosophy lished in 1963, but even if one were to sections of LJ were studied for both 1964 double the number and assume a totar and 1963, in case the earlier reviewing of thirty-two books covered in the two­ had picked up more books. Of the total year period, Choice would be but a first of 493 philosophy books, only a total of step toward finding the 493 philosophy nineteen books were covered in both books reviewed by the journals in this years of Library I ournal-thirteen in field in 1964. 1963 and six in 1964. Clearly Library The librarian must decide how broad Journal offers no adequate substitute for a coverage of reviews he will read in the reviewing of the philosophy journals. order to do his selection in any one field. As a secondary check the available is­ Perhaps staff size will not permit the sues of Choice were also consulted; it careful reading of all thirteen journals began publication in March 1964. In cited. Perhaps it will be decided that spite of the limited number of issues aesthetics is not really in the field of published, a slightly higher number were philosophy and can be excluded. Per­ found here than in LJ-a total of sixteen haps the size or interest of the student books covered, nine of these in Review body would warrant the exclusion of of Metaphysics, two in Philosophical Philosophy East and West. Perhaps the Books, and five from both of these. This small number of books covered in Philos­ hardly seems generous, however, when ophy (a total of seventeen, nine of compared with the total of 123 books in which had been picked up by other the Review of Metaphysics alone. journals) would mean that one could be Only two books were reviewed by put aside. The same could perhaps be both Choice and Library Journal. Un­ said for Symbolic Logic, although this is doubtedly some of the other books on a valuable reference journal for the pro­ fession; it is the only one to review ar­ TABLE 2. BooKs CovERED IN LIBRARY ticles, and in terms of bibliography with­ REVIEWING JOURNALS in the subject it is invaluable. A journal like Mind, although many of its books No. of Titles Library Philosophy Journal 1964 Journal Choice are covered by others, is nevertheless one of the leading journals in the field Aesthetics 15 and to deprive oneself of its point of History of Philosophy 46 1 view and undoubted authority is some­ Journal of thing that ought not to be done lightly. Philosophy 31 1 1 Philosophy is a complex subject, and Mind . 28 1 Philosophical to cover it adequately in a college or Books 63 7 7 university library requires a large num­ Philosophical ber of specialized journals, a large num­ Review 35 Philosophical ber of titles to be considered, and a lt:arterly 48 2 staff able to distinguish a "good" philos­ Ph sophy 17 2 ophy book from a "bad" one. Surely with Phil. and Phen. Research 44 1 a "good" philosophy department much of Phil. East and the decision-making will be done by West 21 2 Philosophy of teaching faculty, but the librarian must Science 8 face the fact that it will take a great Review of amount of care and reading and work Metaphysics 123 7 14 Symbolic Logic 14 to build up a first-rate, or even a second­ rate collection in this field. • •