Sources
The encyclopedia uses stable, inspectable references such as SEP, IEP, Britannica, OpenStax, primary texts, university pages, and museum open-access records.
A source anchor is a stable record that helps a reader inspect the page's intellectual setting. It may be an encyclopedia article, a primary text, a university resource, an open textbook, or a museum collection record for public-domain imagery.
Source anchors are not decoration. They help keep terms tied to traditions, texts, debates, and translation problems.
For high-intent concept pages, a source should usually point to a directly relevant entry or chapter rather than a generic homepage. A reader should be able to open the source and understand why it belongs on that page.
The site favors references that are durable, recognizable, and useful to a serious reader. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Encyclopaedia Britannica, OpenStax, SuttaCentral, Chinese Text Project, and museum open-access records are examples of source types already used in the project.
When a concept belongs to a living or translation-sensitive tradition, the page should avoid presenting one English rendering as final. Source records and related concepts help preserve that complexity without overwhelming the first screen.
No single source type is treated as enough for every tradition. A Western analytic concept, a Confucian term, a Buddhist doctrine, an Islamic theological idea, and a public-domain image each need different kinds of source anchors.
Some drafting and expansion work may be assisted by language tools, but source selection, public structure, and publication decisions are governed by the editorial policy. Pages should not publish raw drafts, unsupported claims, or generic summaries.
A finished page should make its claims inspectable through source records, examples, related concepts, and correction paths. If a reader finds a weak source, missing context, broken link, or unclear translation, the contact page is the preferred correction route.
Source records are also used during review. If a page sounds confident but does not show where a reader can inspect the background, the page should be revised before it is treated as ready for promotion.
Open-license and public-domain images are stored locally and recorded with source URL, source name, object ID, credit, license, alt text, and caption. This keeps visual material useful for readers and auditable during release checks.
Images should support the subject rather than decorate the page vaguely. A portrait, manuscript, object, diagram, or site-generated visual should make the surrounding concept or tradition easier to understand.
The source list is a starting point for inspection, not a command to agree. Readers should compare the short answer on the page with the source anchor, then ask whether the examples and misconceptions still feel accurate.
When sources disagree or emphasize different parts of a tradition, the encyclopedia should make room for that tension through comparisons, related concepts, and topic pages rather than forcing a single flattened answer.