01. 10. 2026.

The Hungarian Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Project Summary

The manuscript of the corpus of the Hungarian Encyclopedia of Philosophy was completed in January 2026. This monumental undertaking comprises 826 entries authored by 131 scholars. The current material is based on the so-called “A-list,” which, while excluding certain terms reserved for a subsequent “B-list” edition, nevertheless represents an extensive body of work. In print, this collection will exceed 2,000 pages, with a character count approaching 10 million. Upon the future integration of the B-list, the complete corpus is projected to expand by an additional 30%.

The A-list provides a comprehensive repository of biographical, conceptual, and schools-of-thought entries. Throughout the editorial process, particular emphasis was placed on the presentation of thinkers of Hungarian origin or background. The sheer volume and intellectual influence of these figures alone justify the creation of this Encyclopedia. A close study of these individual entries will elucidate the distinct characteristics and profound significance of Hungarian thought.

The subsequent stage in the process is the production of the print edition on the basis of the accomplished manuscript. The completion of the stage of production is scheduled to take a considerable amount of time, which is due to the length of the work. Therefore, it is anticipated that the print volumes of the Encyclopedia will be available by the beginning of 2027. The number of volumes in the print edition remains undetermined, as the style of the print is not yet designed.

As work progresses on the present publication, preparatory measures are being undertaken for the subsequent phases of the project. These include the following: 1) The development of the “B-list” edition; 2) The creation of the digital version; and 3) the formation of a shorter English-language version based on the Hungarian original (The Encyclopedia of Hungarian Philosophy). The entire work exemplifies the significance of Hungarian philosophical thought, which is comparable to the cultural impact of Hungarian classical music and our Nobel Prize-winning literature.

Over the course of the seven-year project, we have surveyed a vast expanse of philosophical material, during which time the editorial office evolved into a true philosophical atelier. It is the intention of the parties involved to sustain the collaborative workshop in order to initiate the subsequent phases of the aforementioned collaborative endeavor. 

During the development of the Encyclopedia, we conducted numerous briefings, organized symposia, and engaged in extensive consultations with both experts and the public. In our presentations, we outlined the conceptual framework of the Encyclopedia, which is organized according to the unique topographies of Hungarian philosophy. These principles have been frequently summarized by the Editor-in-Chief, Balázs M. Mezei—most notably in his lecture on Stanley Jaki. In that context, he demonstrated not only the importance of Jaki’s thought but also its intrinsic links to the Hungarian philosophical tradition. A summary of this tradition, alongside its role within the Encyclopedia, is detailed in the accompanying article, which can be accessed here >>>

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01. 10. 2021.

The Hungarian Encyclopedia of Philosophy holds its first conference on November 26, 2021. Venue: Corvinus University, 1093 Budapest, Közraktár u. 4-6, Building C, Hall 103.

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19. 04. 2021.

We plan to hold the first HEP workshop conference in the fall of 2021 at Corvinus University on the topic of “Philosophy and Encyclopedia”. As a preliminary, check out the presentation by Edward N. Zalta (editor-in-chief of the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) HERE.

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