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Doug Portmore
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I wrote a paper on the repugnant conclusion as a graduate student and Derek Parfit reviewed the paper and recommended rejection. Parfit had no trouble being respectful and constructive. And I was honored and greatly helped by his three pages of single-spaced comments. Also, I don't see any problem arising from the disparity of power between us. Given it was a rejection, there was no pressure to be deferential. The only other time that I remember a journal reviewer identifying his or herself was another very famous philosopher (still alive - so I won't use his or her name) who recommended revise and resubmit but who wasn't at all heavy-handed in his or her comments. The reviewer made clear that he or she could be wrong on various points and was open to being convinced otherwise. In any case, I don't really see the discrepancy in power to be a major concern. After all, at conferences and workshops, there is often a huge discrepancy of power between the audience member voicing some criticism and the author/presenter. And I don't think that it would be better if audience questions/criticisms were presented anonymously. And I know a lot of people who have no problem being quite up front and honest in their criticisms even when their identity is known. So I think that it's often okay to reveal your identity, but that you certainly mention things that one should consider before they do.
On why reviewers and authors should remain mutually anonymous
This year, I have reviewed 12 papers (and more if you include revise and resubmits) for various journals. As I was reflecting on my work as a reviewer (for my end-of-year report of teaching, service, and research), I saw this interesting question on Twitter. Gui Sanches de Oliveira asked: Is i...
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Dec 22, 2020
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