Summary

A new Medium publication titled Original Philosophy has been launched to provide a platform for scholarly yet innovative and open philosophical discourse, free from the constraints of traditional academia.

Abstract

The Original Philosophy publication on Medium aims to navigate between the pitfalls of restrictive academic publishing and the unregulated chaos of the Internet. It seeks to offer a space where both scholars and non-academics can contribute serious philosophical works that are peer-reviewed yet not bound by conventional academic themes. The publication emphasizes quality writing, original thought, and engagement with real-world issues, distinguishing itself from purely analytic journals. It invites submissions from all who wish to advance philosophical research and encourages community building through active participation and discussion.

Opinions

Academia is criticized for stifling originality and innovation, functioning more like a factory with predetermined outputs than a meritocracy.
The unregulated nature of the Internet, while offering freedom, often leads to a decline in quality, with content that lacks depth or substance.
The publication's founders believe in the need for more open and accessible philosophy that engages with contemporary societal issues.
Original Philosophy is positioned as a peer-reviewed journal that values diversity in philosophical approaches while maintaining high standards for quality and coherence.
The publication is actively seeking PhD holders in philosophy to join as peer-reviewers and editors to help shape its direction and content.
Contributors are expected to engage with the community by reading, commenting, and contributing to increase visibility and foster a philosophical community.
Submissions are open to all, but must meet rigorous standards of scholarly writing and argumentation, and must not have been previously published.
The use of AI-generated content is explicitly prohibited, emphasizing the value of human thought and scholarship.
The publication may nominate articles for Medium’s Boost program, but selection for Boosting is not guaranteed.
There is a call for community engagement, with a note of concern for those who seek to contribute without participating in the broader community interactions, such as clapping for articles.

Call for Submissions to a Publication that Welcomes Original Philosophy

Between the hazardous rocks of Scylla and Charybdis lies a passage to new vistas.

Please read the entirety of this article to understand our publication’s philosophy and submission requirements.

The Original Vision

It is an idea I have had for awhile, but a recent lunch with an academic colleague brought home how much the idea is needed. “Academia is a factory” my colleague said, “we are forced to work on and publish on certain topics and churn out acceptable conclusions. We aren’t free to pursue ideas.”

I know how true this is, and it is a big reason why I have chosen the career path I have. The world needs more philosophy, and philosophy needs to be free and open — open to all people and open to meaningful exploration of ideas, not just what is politically acceptable.

That’s the Scylla of corporatized academia: the Ivory Tower in which originality and innovation are discouraged. It is not, sorry to say, a true meritocracy. The number of spots available in philosophy journals are limited, and almost all of those slots go to papers written by an exclusive few who rehash conventional wisdom. Academic philosophy only grows slowly and remains stuffy and stilted.

The Charybdis is the free-for-all of the Internet in which anyone can say anything. Freedom is fabulous, but without guidelines and standards, the free-for-all descends to the lowest common denominator. The number of spots online for articles are unlimited, but people fill the slots with shallow platitudes masquerading as life advice and ego-laden diatribes. Such is human nature, sadly, and the Internet reflects that.

Between the shipwreck-causing rocks of Scylla and Charybdis lies a passage to new vistas. At least, that’s my optimistic hope. So I am launching a new publication here on Medium: Original Philosophy, a peer-reviewed journal that will give scholars a place to publish their own deep and innovative philosophical thoughts. On the one hand, it will be a publication dedicated to scholarly works that advance philosophical research reviewed by professional philosophers. On the other hand, it will accept submissions from anyone and not restrict submissions to a narrow subject area or approach. Articles will be accepted on the quality of writing and originality of ideas, not what position you hold.

How It Will Work

Original Philosophy will be a Medium publication, subject to its rules and taking advantage of its opportunities.

First on the agenda is to recruit two more people who hold a PhD in philosophy to be peer-reviewers and editors for the journal. They will help me to decide what submissions reach the journal’s standards and are worthy of publication. With three editors of the publication, we can communally set the guidelines and standards and make informed decisions about content. Please send me a Private Note if you wish to serve as an editor for Original Philosophy.

Scholars who wish to submit their research to Original Philosophy are invited to make a comment below to be added as a Writer. This is standard procedure for Medium publications. If you have a history of writing serious, informative articles connected to philosophy, I will happily add you and you can then submit a draft, which the editors will review. It would be helpful if you would also read and comment on articles we have already published to increase visibility for yourself and other authors as we build a philosophical community.

My vision is to build an accessible, substantial publication that helps increase the discussion of philosophy. I am excited at the possibilities that Medium provides for such a journal that can bring this vision to life. I look forward to your suggestions and contributions.

Submission Guidelines

Original Philosophy welcomes serious, well-written, and well-researched philosophical papers. This publication is open to people outside of academia, but it is intended as a platform for academic research.

Original Philosophy will not be as restricted as the establishment philosophy journals, but we have a high standard of quality. In their most basic expression, those standards are quality writing, a coherent argument, a clear conclusion and/or question that invites further research and discussion, and is an exercise in philosophical scholarship, not a personal mind dump.

We welcome various approaches to philosophical issues, however, we are not an analytic journal; analytic thinkers have plenty of other vehicles for publication. Original Philosophy prefers papers that engage with real-life issues that affect people and society.

Original Philosophy welcomes controversial topics, but papers must offer respectful and serious argument or discussion. Diatribes and polemics will not be accepted.

The use of AI-generated content, either text or graphics, is prohibited. Keep it real.

To submit a paper for consideration, you need to first respond to this article with a request to be added as a writer to the publication. Only public Responses will be considered. If approved and added as a writer, you can submit your paper.

Please do not submit articles published previously, even on Medium.

We do nominate articles published here for Medium’s Boost program, but there is no guarantee that your article will be Boosted, which is out of our hands. All we can do is nominate.

We’re getting a spate of people asking to be writers who don’t even clap for this article or any others in Original Philosophy. We are building a community here and if you are only in it for yourself …

One of our peer reviewers had to drop out so we are seeking another person to help judge submissions. The main requirement is that an applicant have a PhD in philosophy. Send a private note if interested.