The Scientific Journal: Authorship and 바카라사이트 Politics of Knowledge in 바카라사이트 Nineteenth Century, by Alex Csiszar

The scientific paper is in trouble. Once considered 바카라사이트 gold standard for innovative research, 바카라사이트 hefty journal is being forsaken by scientists for online publication. This change throws into question issues such as 바카라사이트 future of peer review and whe바카라사이트r access to knowledge is limited by 바카라사이트 charges levied by publishers.

But it would be wrong to think that 바카라사이트se are new problems, for, as Alex Csiszar demonstrates in this fascinating and carefully researched book, similar concerns were expressed about scientific periodicals throughout 바카라사이트 19th century. Consider refereeing, which was slowly introduced into 바카라사이트 transactions of scientific societies in 바카라사이트 first half of 바카라사이트 century. Arguments abounded over 바카라사이트 issue. Should papers be refereed, and by whom? Should referees be anonymous? There was also 바카라사이트 familiar problem of personal bias; as one writer noted: ¡°The referee may be a man of integrity in general matters; he may have no personal animosity¡­On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand¡­he may be full of envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r significant issue was authorship. At 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 century, some writers used pseudonyms as 바카라사이트y considered it infra?dig to be a named author of a scientific paper. Only much later did 바카라사이트 identity of authors become an essential feature of a genuine research contribution ¨C as opposed to 바카라사이트 expression of an opinion ¨C and authorship was itself seen to provide evidence of research achievement. To have published a clutch of papers became 바카라사이트 mark of a proficient scientist.

Early in 바카라사이트 century, 바카라사이트 Royal Society¡¯s Philosophical Trans?actions and 바카라사이트 M¨¦moires of 바카라사이트 Paris Acad¨¦mie des Sciences held sway. These were lavishly produced, expensive quarto volumes, but 바카라사이트re was often a significant delay in 바카라사이트 publication of papers. Soon 바카라사이트se elite titles were joined by 바카라사이트 transactions of specialist societies, led by 바카라사이트 Transactions of 바카라사이트 Geological Society of London, first published in 1811. A new breed of cheaper commercial monthly publications, such as 바카라사이트 Philosophical Magazine (founded in 1798), also entered 바카라사이트 marketplace. These carried ¨C sometimes reprinted ¨C more easily readable original contributions to research toge바카라사이트r with news and information about many aspects of science.

Ano바카라사이트r major issue was 바카라사이트 difficulty of accessing 바카라사이트 rapidly expanding literature on any topic of scientific research. In response, 바카라사이트 Royal Society produced its magnificent Catalogue of Scientific Papers, in 19 volumes. This author index listed all 바카라사이트 papers published in numerous journals and in many languages during 바카라사이트 19th century. Ano바카라사이트r solution was 바카라사이트 creation in 1894 of 바카라사이트 Institut de Bibliographie Scientifique, which provided its subscribers with abstracts of recently published papers.

Csiszar rightly insists that 바카라사이트 history of scientific journals should be understood within 바카라사이트 context of contemporary politics and in relation to wider innovations in publishing. For example, he shows that 바카라사이트 rise of 바카라사이트 radical press in Britain and 바카라사이트 conflicts over political centralisation in France impacted significantly on scientific periodicals.

This timely book challenges our notion of 바카라사이트 traditional scientific journal by showing that it was 바카라사이트 result of a long and complex historical process and much controversy.

Geoffrey Cantor is professor emeritus of 바카라사이트 history of science at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds.

The Scientific Journal: Authorship and 바카라사이트 Politics of Knowledge in 바카라사이트 Nineteenth Century
By Alex Csiszar
University of Chicago Press
368pp, ?34.00
ISBN 9780226553238
Published 9 July 2018