Philosophy, Bullshit, and Peer Review

Peer review is supposed to ensure that published work, in philosophy and in other disciplines, meets high standards of rigor and interest. But many people fear that it no longer is fit to play this role. This Element examines some of their concerns. It uses evidence that critics of peer review sometimes cite to show its failures, as well as empirical literature on the reception of bullshit, to advance positive claims about how the assessment of scholarly work is appropriately influenced by features of the context in which it appears: for example, by readers' knowledge of authorship or of publication venue. Reader attitude makes an appropriate and sometimes decisive difference to perceptions of argument quality. This Element finishes by considering the difference that author attitudes to their own arguments can appropriately make to their reception. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

List of contents

Introduction; 1. Bullshit philosophy; 2. Intellectual charity in everyday (Academic) life; 3. Too much trust? The lesson of hoaxes; 4. Publication requires commitment; 5. In Lieu of a conclusion; References.

Summary

This Element examines some of the concerns on peer review that it no longer is fit to ensure that published work meets high standards of rigor and interest. It uses evidence that critics of peer review sometimes cite to show its failures. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Foreword

This Element examines some of the concerns on peer review.

Product details

• Authors: Neil Levy, Neil (Macquarie University Levy, Levy Neil
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.12.2023
• EAN: 9781009256308
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0925630-8
• No. of pages: 74
• Series: Elements in Epistemology
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; PHILOSOPHY / Social, PHILOSOPHY / Political, PHILOSOPHY / Epistemology, Social & political philosophy, social and political philosophy, Popular philosophy, Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge, Philosophy: epistemology and theory of knowledge