ACPI to Release Three-Volume Encyclopedia of Philosophy for Golden Jubilee

PUNE, October 13, 2026: The Association of Christian Philosophers of India (ACPI) will release a revised and enlarged three-volume Encyclopedia of Philosophy on October 21 at Jnana-Deepa, Pune, as part of its Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The release will precede the association’s Golden Jubilee Research Seminar, scheduled at the same venue from October 22 to 25.

The encyclopedia is the result of years of collaborative work by an editorial board of 17 ACPI scholars specialising in different branches of philosophy. Fr. Dr. Johnson Puthenpurackal, OFM Cap, a veteran philosophy professor and scholar, is the chief editor. Fr. Dr. John Peter, OFM Cap, and Fr. Dr. George Panthamackal, MSFS, serve as associate editors, supported by 14 sectional editors.

According to the association, the publication brings together contributions from beyond the boundaries of nationality, religion and academic discipline. Its 835 entries have been written by 324 contributors from diverse philosophical, religious, linguistic, academic, regional and cultural backgrounds.

The three-volume work contains 93 pages of preliminary material and 2,532 pages of main content. It examines classical themes in Indian and Western philosophy alongside contemporary questions concerning human existence, social justice, marginalised communities, moral values, diversity, scientific progress and religious transcendence.

The encyclopedia also explores the relationship between philosophy and developments in science and technology. Its entries address subjects such as the universe, quantum mechanics, the Big Bang, the origins of life and the theory of relativity.

Artificial intelligence receives particular attention, with contributions examining its development, philosophical implications and ethical challenges. The publication also engages with contemporary currents in continental, postmodern, postcolonial and critical philosophy, addressing questions arising from present-day social and cultural experiences.

The editors describe the work as an “Encyclopedia with a Difference”, highlighting its engagement with a world shaped by fragmentation, technological change, religious tensions and political contestation. The publication also takes up themes that, according to the association, are absent from other encyclopedias.

Asian Trading Corporation, Bengaluru, has published the revised and enlarged edition.

The release builds on ACPI’s earlier publishing work, which includes the two-volume Encyclopedia of Philosophy released in 2010 during the association’s annual research seminar in New Delhi. Over the years, ACPI has also published 33 books on philosophical themes, frequently engaging with the religious and social realities of India and the wider world.

The new edition marks a significant milestone in the association’s 50-year contribution to philosophical scholarship and dialogue.

By Catholic Connect Reporter