It's Just Like The New Nepotism

At Thoughts, Arguments & Rants there is a long thread on selection of articles for Phil. Persp., which is an invitation only journal. Some people seem to object to the idea that the way a journal should select articles is for the editor to check with his buddies and publish their recommendations. Others think all that matters is the quality of the product. Interestingly, none of the editors have found time to explain how they selected who they selected for publication. It is shocking how thick-witted academics can be about their own worlds. Let’s hand out scarce resources based on secret criteria to our friends and neighbors….. In fact, let’s run all of as much of the government as we can on these general principles. 

 Publications are a scarce resource. They have positive correlation with a number of other benefits, like invitations to conferences and promotions. There are a number of easily available alternative means of distribution. There is no reason to think there will be any long term loss if selection is made more transparent.