Philosophy Resources: Professional Resources

The AAPT is dedicated to the advancement of the art of teaching philosophy.

The American Philosophical Association is the main professional organization for philosophers in the United States. Founded in 1900, its mission is to promote the exchange of ideas among philosophers, to encourage creative and scholarly activity in philosophy, to facilitate the professional work and teaching of philosophers, and to represent philosophy as a discipline.

An eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, the American Philosophical Society promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and community outreach. This country's first learned society, the APS has played an important role in American cultural and intellectual life for over 250 years.

The American Society for Aesthetics was founded in 1942 to promote study, research, discussion, and publication in aesthetics. “Aesthetics,” in this connection, is understood to include all studies of the arts and related types of experience from a philosophic, scientific, or other theoretical standpoint, including those of psychology, sociology, anthropology, cultural history, art criticism, and education. “The arts” include the visual arts, literature, music, and theater arts.

The Canadian Philosophical Association was founded in 1958 to promote philosophical scholarship and education across Canada, and to represent the interests of the profession in public forums. The Canadian Philosophical Association is a learned society made up principally of teachers and students of philosophy, and is devoted to professional philosophical activity in Canada.

The Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy (SAAP) exists to advance American philosophy by promoting interest and research in its history, encouraging original and creative work in its spirit, and providing forums for the exchange of information and ideas.

SPEP is a professional organization devoted to supporting philosophy inspired by continental European traditions. It strives to encourage work not only in the philosophical traditions of phenomenology and existentialism, but also in all those areas commonly associated with ‘continental philosophy,’ such as animal studies, critical theory, cultural studies, deconstruction, environmental philosophy, feminism, German idealism, hermeneutics, philosophy of the Americas, post-colonialism, etc.

The Society for Philosophy and Psychology is the premier scientific and educational organization for philosophically interested psychologists and psychologically interested philosophers in North America. The purpose of the SPP is to promote interaction between philosophers, psychologists and other cognitive scientists on issues of common concern.

The Society for Women in Philosophy was started in 1972 to promote and support women in philosophy.

The TPA was founded in 1969 for the purpose of presenting and discussing original philosophical papers at an annual conference. There are no membership dues, and anyone with a philosophical bent is invited to attend the conferences.