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In our January “how can we help you?” thread, a reader writes:
How does publishing in Philosophy Compass work? Its website reports an extreme acceptance rate (85%), but one needs to get approval from an editor before submitting. Does anyone have experience with them? Am I right in thinking they have a pretty good reputation?
Does anyone have any helpful insights to share?
My understanding is that articles are commissioned, so there is little sense of talking about acceptance rates. That’s just probably the journal’s automatic algorithm kicking in. It is like talking about acceptance rates for the SEP or The Monist.
I’d love to know more about how The Monist works! I always assumed it was a regular journal. So…it sounds like it’s more invitation-based?
FWIW, The Monist used to have open calls for papers. Better yet, because every issue is themed, they posted the calls years in advance.
I think it’s really declined in the last little while. (Certainly, the dead editorial board members can’t be helping.) TBH, the journal looks pretty moribund to me.
“The Monist publishes quarterly thematic issues, edited by Advisory Editors which include commissioned papers and where there is also a call for papers, submitted papers.
If you wish to submit a paper in response to a call for papers please contact the relevant Advisory Editors.”
Here is an explanation from 2020. It seems to be still accurate based on recent experience.
https://www.justinkhoo.com/blog/publishing-with-philosophy-compass
Yes, it’s a very good journal for overviews of various topics.
I was under the impression that it’s invite-only, bit I might be wrong about that.
I published there, so I think it is reasonably prestigious. Contact the (area) editor first. Get the approval to write, and then talk to the (area) editor again once you’ve finished writing. I forgot whether the “review” happens before or after submitting to the system. Sorry it was a while ago. But if the “review” happens before offical submission, it will explain the high acceptance rate.
Only articles which are commissioned by a section editor are considered. In my experience, this process consists of sending a proposal for the paper (something more detailed than an abstract, which sketches the structure and focus of the proposed article). I’m sure the exact process differs depending on the editor you’re in touch with. Because of this step, it means that articles that have been commissioned are very likely to end up published with the journal (though I would note that I have heard of one being rejected and I have seen another go through multiple rounds of R&R).
The journal does have a good reputation. My assessment is that their articles are very well-written and serve as a good introduction to the literature – I frequently assign them to students to read. They also tend (not always) to be written by someone who is already pretty well known in that literature.
Would you guys consider an article in Philosophy Compass equivalent to a Leiter top 20?
I think it serves a different function. An original research feels more like reputation building; a Phil Compass paper feels more like a confirmation that “you are an active player in the field.” At least that’s how I feel.
Yep. I might even give it more weight than some of the lower ones in the top 20. It’s just a slightly different type of signal because it’s a different type of work.
I’m finishing one right now. The commenters above are right about the acceptance rate and the process of getting an article commissioned. For what it’s worth, I think the comment above is broadly right about sending an abstract, but when I I sent the area editor an email that was less like an abstract, and more of a three-(short)-paragraph pitch that
(1) Briefly explained the issue I wanted to write on.
(2) Said why a review like this would be timely, interesting, and generally worthwhile. I also mentioned that it would complement the content/perspective of some other Compass articles.
(3) Said why I’d be a good person to write it, especially given my work in the area.
Maybe that’s not necessary, but I’m not very well-known in the area — at the time, I only had a couple forthcoming publications and other papers in draft. So I suspect making the case like this was helpful.
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