The UPDirectory publicizes information about philosophers who are members of traditionally underrepresented groups in philosophy. The purpose of the directory is to provide an easy-to-use resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the work of philosophers who belong to underrepresented groups within the discipline.

The directory includes information about philosophers who belong to traditionally underrepresented groups in philosophy and who (1) write philosophy in English and (2) have a position researching or teaching philosophy, or (3) have previously held a position in philosophy and are still active in philosophy, or (4) have published an article in a philosophy journal or a book on a philosophy list, or (5) either hold or are working towards a PhD. or M.A. in philosophy and conduct research in philosophy.

For the purposes of the UPDirectory, traditionally underrepresented groups in philosophy are specified by gender, race, disability, and sexual orientation. For a full list of self-identification categories, please use the ‘Self-Identification’ link. Philosophers belonging to these groups can also indicate further self-identification information, such as their socio-economic status, whether they are nonnative English speakers, and so on. While we are aware that there are other categories of underrepresentation or disadvantage within the profession, at this time our focus is on these traditional categories. We are also limiting the list to living philosophers. Inclusion in the directory is primarily a matter of self-entry.

Please note this is a work in progress and we hope to make it as comprehensive as possible. If you are a philosopher from an underrepresented group, please fill out the ‘Want to Add Yourself?’ form to add yourself to the directory. If you want to invite someone else, please fill out the ‘Want to Invite Someone Else?’ form if that person is an philosopher from an underrepresented group and is not currently included in the directory. Please do not add any LGBTQ+ philosophers or philosophers with a disability other than yourself. We ask those philosophers to choose for themselves whether to be included in the directory. If your submission is for someone other than yourself, your submission will not be entered until we have obtained expressed permission from the person submitted to publish the information submitted.

If you already have an entry in the directory, please check your entry to ensure that the information is correct and up to date. Fill in the ‘Request to Edit Information’ form to edit your information. If you want to be removed from the directory, please fill out the Contact form and indicate that you no longer wish to appear in the directory. We will add new philosophers and correct information as soon as possible. If you notice that an entry for a philosopher other than yourself has incorrect information shown, please email them and request that they fill out the ‘Request to Edit Information’ form on their own behalf. Please note that since this is a volunteer project and data is hand-entered, we have to ask you to check your own entry for accuracy by visiting the directory a month or two after you submit any data. The UPDirectory cannot be liable for any misinformation that might appear in your entry so please check your entry for accuracy.

For more information about how to use this site, please visit ‘Using this Site’.

If you are having any trouble with the site please fill free to contact us using the Contact form, also under the About tab above.

Special thanks to those individuals helping to make this site possible by lending their time and support: Ruth Chang, Sally Haslanger, Elizabeth Anderson, Tina Botts, Manuel Vargas, and especially Rebecca Millsop for designing and developing the web-based aspects of this directory, the APA Committee on the Status of Women, the APA Committee on the Status of Black Philosophers, MIT, The University of Michigan, Rutgers University, University of San Francisco, and the TablePress plugin. Thanks are also due to Adam Hosein for creating and maintaining the social media profile for the directory.

In 2018, the UPDirectory transitioned to the care of the American Philosophical Association (APA) after five years of being maintained by its creators, who give a special thanks to Amy Ferrer and Cheshire Calhoun of the APA for taking over the Directory. The UPDirectory underwent a technology overhaul spearheaded by Michael Morris and Michelle Crabb to ensure that it would continue to grow and thrive.