Philosophical Treasures | Faculty of Philosophy

Faculty of Philosophy

University of Oxford

The University of Oxford has many philosophical treasures exhibited in the Bodleian Library, as well as items and manuscripts to be discovered in its many colleges. Below are just some of these intriguing objects.

Phaedo Manuscript

The Phaedo makes a central claim for the soul’s immortality, and explores its nature and role beyond the body.

Berlin's Letter

Sir Isaiah Berlin's Letter to Rowland Burdon-Muller (1891-1980)

Shostakovich visits Isaiah Berlin at Oxford

John Locke desk

John Locke's Desk

Images of the desk that resides in Christ Church are featured in Oxford Philosophy magazine

Manuscript - Aristotle's works

Mid-late C15th manuscript at Corpus Christi College

Works by Aristotle, including Physics, De Caelo, De generatione et corruptione, and Analytica

Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy

Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy)

Principia mathematica provided the basis for modern physics

John Stuart Mill Library

John Stuart Mill Collection

A library of 1674 volumes owned by the political philosopher John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) are now in the possession of Somerville College.

Isaiah Berlin Drawing

The Isaiah Berlin Virtual Library

Wolfson College host this online resource looking after all aspects of Berlin’s literary estate