Wikipedia:WikiProject Philosophy

WikiProject Philosophy task list A list of articles needing cleanup associated with this project is available. See also the tool's wiki page and the index of WikiProjects. Optimism should have a separate page that focuses on the philosophical idea of optimism and distinguishes the philosophical view from "positive thinking" and other everyday uses of the word. Philosophy of social science, has some okay points but requires elaboration on Wittgenstein and Winch, perhaps other linguistic critiques, whether logical positivist or postmodernist. Exchange value needs to be redone, it shouldn't be under 'Marxist theory'- although it's an important component of Marxist theory it's also vital for all economics. That said the article's weight on Marx is also absurd. German Idealism and the articles related to it may need to be rewritten or expanded to avoid undue weight on Arthur Schopenhauer. Protected values first section confuses right action and values and needs a copy edit, moving and wikifying Quality (philosophy) needs a more clear explanation. Socratic dialogues could do with some tidying and clarification. See the talk page for one suggested change. Problem of universals: The introductory definition is (perhaps) fixed. But, the article is poor. Check out the German version. Teleology: the article is shallow and inconsistent. Existentialism: the quality of this article varies wildly and is in desperate need of expert attention. Analytic philosophy This is a very major topic, but still has several sections which are stubs, and several topics which are not covered. Lifeworld A philosophical concept that seems to have fallen exclusively into the hands of the sociologists. Could use some attention; it's a major and complex issue in phenomenology. Perception Needs the attention of philosophically minded Wikipedians. This is only the start of an overhaul of perception and related articles. Edit this list | To do | stubs | Article alerts | Cleanup listing | Category | Portal | RFC | Deletion | Requested articles | Discussion

Please note that the document below is a work in progress -- feel free to edit it as you see fit.

How to participate in the Philosophy WikiProject

This project is open to all Wiki editors. Adding your name indicates that you are willing to work with others on the development of Wikipedia's philosophy articles, and be an involved member of the project.

Be bold and add yourself to our Participants Roster.

Once you are on the roster, be sure to add the Philosophy WikiProject task list to your user page. To do this, place {{PhilosophyTasksBox}} at the top of your page.

Welcome

Welcome to reppin the bay (talk · contribs), Gedavis (talk · contribs), Universitytruth (talk · contribs) and Spetey (talk · contribs), our newest members.

This Project's Goals and Tasks: how you can help

Philosophy I'm a philosopher; why don't I edit the article on my subject? Because it's hopeless. I've tried at various times, and each time have given up in depressed disgust. Philosophy seems to attract aggressive zealots who know a little (often a very little), who lack understanding of key concepts, terms, etc., and who attempt to take over the article (and its Talk page) with rambling, ground-shifting, often barely comprehensible rants against those who disagree with them. Life's too short. I just tell my students and anyone else I know not to read the Wikipedia article except for a laugh. It's one of those areas where the ochlocratic nature of Wikipedia really comes a cropper.

- Mel Etitis[1]

This WikiProject is a community of Wikipedians who share an interest in philosophy and who wish to improve the general quality of Wikipedia philosophical articles, and how they are accessed. It is an effort to coordinate the work of Wikipedians who are knowledgeable about philosophy.

To improve the quality and range of Wikipedia articles on philosophical topics:

• Philosophy WikiProject task list
• Collaboration of the month
• List of stubs
• List of philosophical topics

To provide a framework for consistency in appearance and navigation within the project's subject:

• Create and use standard navigation tools
• Ensure Category:Philosophy is accurate and up-to-date
• Monitor placement and Recent changes
• Regularly update the Philosophy Portal

To build a community of contributors"

• Participants Roster
• Vote for or Nominate someone for the Star of Sophia
• Recruit new members.

Some old unfinished editing tasks have been archived here. It contains requests for fixups made in 2004, but have not been completed.

Thanks for helping out!

General standards for philosophy articles

In addition to the standards suggested for all Wikipedia articles, philosophy articles need more thorough and rigorous standards. Below are new standards and a few especially pertinent old ones. Note that new standards should be subjected to consensus building before being added here (a consensus should be reached on the discussion page).

These standards, as with all Wikipedia guidelines, are not obligatory. However, it should be noted that any article that is seeking feature article status should comply with these standards.

Project-specific guidelines

• Philosophy articles should have the {{philosophy}} template placed at the top of their talk page.
• Guidelines for readability in philosophy articles.
• Style guide for philosophy articles.
• Requirements for criticisms in philosophy articles
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Philosophy/geographic divisions.
• Standardise categorisations
• In-text citations should be made using the Cite.php system.

Relevant Wiki Guidelines

• Wikipedia:Lead section.
• Cite sources
• Avoid weasel words

Star of Sophia

The Star of Sophia is a special award, and unlike Barnstars, is granted through nomination and acclamation by the participants of this project.

Attention Philosophy Wikiproject participants: to nominate, or vote upon the nomination of another participant of this project whom you feel has contributed in an extraordinary way to the improvement of Wikipedia's philosophy "department", click here.

Hall of Fame

In special recognition by their fellow participants, for exemplary contributions to the presentation of philosophy on Wikipedia which go above and beyond all expectations, the following extraordinary Wikipedians have been presented the Philosophy WikiProject's highest award, the Star of Sophia:

• Sethmahoney For championing the idea of a graphics category for philosophy.
• Lacatosias for greatly improving the philosophy of mind articles and his tireless efforts to improve the quality of Philosophy on Wikipedia. [2]
• Banno for taking on the impossible task of trying to administer a Web encyclopedia which is defined by almost-complete-disorder, constant quarreling, edit wars, and other irresponsible madness.
• Infinity0 for championing and maintaining the Template:Philosophy navigation
• User:Mel Etitis For whatever he's done such that we see his name everywhere.

Philosophy sub-projects

Parentage

This WikiProject is a top-level WikiProject.

Descendant Wikiprojects

• WikiProject Aesthetics
• WikiProject Moral Philosophy
• WikiProject Philosophy of language
• WikiProject Philosophy of mind

No other descendant WikiProjects have yet been defined.

Some examples of possible descendants, divided by subfield:

• WikiProject Continental philosophy
• WikiProject Epistemology
• WikiProject Logic (proposal to be found here)

Similar Wikiprojects

WikiProject Philosophy's sister WikiProject, WikiProject Critical Theory has substantial overlap with this WikiProject, and could use help from people on this project. Some of the articles which both projects find interesting are listed here.

WikiProject Philosophy may similarly have some overlap with Wikipedia:WikiProject History of Science for articles on the history of natural philosophy.

WikiProject Philosophy may be given support from WikiProject Academics for articles on philosophers qua professors.

Hierarchy Definition

Wikipedia:WikiProject Philosophy/Hierarchy Draft

Wikipedia:WikiProject Philosophy/Hierarchy Draft 2

Custom templates (Our toolbox)

Portal Pointer

{{portalpar|Philosophy|Socrates.png}} adds a box which leads to the combined philosophy category/portal. It looks like this:

It should appear at the bottom of each philosophy article, immediately before the categories list.

Task Box

{{PhilosophyTasks}} will add the Philosophy WikiProject task list to a page. To add the pretty boxed version seen above, use {{PhilosophyTasksBox}} instead. (Note: Both are case-sensitive.)

This list is regularly updated by participants, and is used for reporting pages that need attention. If you find such a page, feel free to edit Template:PhilosophyTasks to add it to the list. Please add items to the task list by placing them at the top of the list. You may also remove items from the bottom of the list if it is too long.

If you wish to place the box on your own User or User_talk page, it would be much appreciated. (Keep in mind that the box is currently auto-justified to the right.)

Project pages

Putting {{philosophy}} at the top of a page will add this notice to it:

This message should be placed at the top of the talk pages of all philosophy articles, especially:

• articles that members of the WikiProject are actively trying to improve.
• articles about major philosophical topics.
• articles that need special attention. (In this case, you should also add the article name to the Philosophy WikiProject task list. You can view a list of these articles by clicking on What links here on the template page.)

Philosopher Infobox

Putting the text found at Template:Infobox Philosopher at the top of a biographical page will add a box for basic biographical information. This infobox is primarily a navigation tool. See the discussion at Template talk:Infobox Philosopher for more information.

Collaboration of the month

{{PhilCOTW}} will add the Template:PhilCOTW template to the page. This is how it looks:

It is added to the top of the discussion page of the current collaboration of the month. To have your page listed, just add it to the list of articles at Template talk:PhilosophyTasks/vote.

(The W in PhilCOTW stands for Week. The collaborations used to be weekly programs, but perhaps philosophers need more time to think, so it was changed to a monthly program.)

Stubs

{{Philo-stub}} will add the Template:Philo-stub template to the page. This is how it looks:

Add it to the bottom of the discussion page of a philosophy-related stub. You can view a list of these stubs at Category:Philosophy stubs or by clicking on What links here on the template page.

Invitation to join this project

{{PhilInvit}} Will add the Template:PhilInvit template to the page. This is how it looks:

I notice that you've edited a few philosophy articles. Have you considered joining the Wikipedia:WikiProject Philosophy? It is an effort to coordinate the work of Wikipedians who are knowledgeable about philosophy in an effort to improve the general quality and range of Wikipedia articles on philosophical topics.

This is to be placed on the user:talk of potential participants. if you spot someone who might be interested in this project, place this template on their talk page. Don't forget to sign it - it looks more personal. Don't forget to check the Participants Roster first, just in case they are already a member.

You can view a list of who has received invitations by clicking on What links here on the template page.

Navigation Template

Philosophy Quick Topic Guide (see below).

Created a Userbox

Go crazy with it!

User WP Philosophy