The Raven will publish original philosophy written in accessible and stimulating prose for intellectually curious readers with or without formal training in the discipline. Articles may deal with public affairs, but they need not; they will in any case be “public” by virtue of inviting a general audience into the practice of philosophy.
To this end, authors will have to avoid relying on a reader’s knowledge of, or interest in, the academic literature. They will have to arouse the reader’s curiosity in your topic, explain its implications, use a reader-friendly vocabulary, state assumptions that go without saying among initiates — and with those materials, do something philosophically novel. In addition to traditional philosophical topics, we welcome discussion of the arts, popular culture, and disciplines outside philosophy as well as the use of personal narrative, so long as the work is idea-driven and philosophically rich.
If you wish to propose an article, please fill out this form, including a "pitch" of up to 250 words in the last field. Your pitch should be specific enough to display the originality of the project, its potential to engage the intended audience, and your ability to execute it in non-technical terms. We recommend writing in the voice of the proposed piece rather than in the style of a scholarly abstract. The Editorial Committee may then ask for a complete or partial draft on the basis of which to decide whether to initiate the editorial process, in which the editors will help you to organize your ideas and clarify their expression while retaining your distinctive voice. The expectation will be that every contribution entering the process will be published, with the joint approval of author and editors.
Each issue will contain a variety of long- and short-form articles, including reviews of recent or hitherto neglected works in any medium or genre.