The Philosophers' Cocoon

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Owned & Moderated by Marcus Arvan (University of Tampa)

Contact: marvan@ut.edu

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Job-Market Reporting Thread (2025-26)
Job-Market Discussion Thread (2025-26)

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  • Should reviewers suggest stylistic or structural changes?

    In our newest “how can we help you?” thread, a journal reviewer asks:

    I would not appreciate my structural and stylistic suggestions to be used to reject a paper whose main argument I judged to be valuable. Is it better not to mention it altogether in an environment where many journals are aiming for ever higher rejection rates?

    Why not just say in your reviewer report, “I don’t think my stylistic/structural suggestions should be treated as a condition for the journal to publish the paper. However, I do think the paper would read better if the following changes were made…”?

    What do readers think?

    16

  • Is it important to have a personal website?

    In our newest “how can we help you?” thread, a reader asks:

    I was wondering whether people would recommend having a personal academic website, perhaps using something like Google Sites or WordPress, or whether it is enough just to have a PhilPeople page.

    I’m currently a PhD student, and I’ve noticed that quite a lot of professors have their own websites, but quite a lot do not, so I’m not really sure whether having one is necessary. My main concern is whether it would make a meaningful difference on the job market after graduation. Do people think having a personal website is important, or is PhilPeople enough?

    What do readers think?

    7

  • The reputation of journals like Synthese?

    In our newest “how can we help you?” thread, a reader asks:

    I’d like to know the recognition level of journals like Synthese. I saw that it’s ranked 11th in journal rankings, but unlike other journals, Synthese publishes a very large number of articles. I’d like to know how recognized this journal is for job hunting.

    My sense is that Synthese has a good reputation (commensurate with published surveys/renkings), and that it publishes a lot of excellent work. But, like the OP, I have also heard a few people note how many papers the journal publishes.

    Any thoughts from readers?

    37

  • R&R’s based on one report followed by a rejection by a different reviewer?

    In our newest “how can we help you?” thread, a reader asks:

    Is it normal/considered acceptable to get a revise-and-resubmit based on one referee report, and then get rejected based on a completely new report, with no sign of the original reviewer? I am kind of a compulsive manuscript status checker — bad habit, I know — and the thing went back “under review” within like 4 or 5 days after I submitted the revisions, so I’m somewhat skeptical there was a failed effort made to reconnect with the original reviewer, but suspect they immediately went for a new eye. The whole process took 14 months, pretty depressing…

    What do readers think?

    11