Let's Abolish Pre-Publication Peer Review and Print Journals

Abstract

The paper gives 4 reasons to abolish pre-publication peer review and print journals. First, every print journal’s editor and referees effectively say to its subscribers, “We will decide for you what is (and is not) worth reading.�? Therein lies the same thought control that the Catholic Church practiced for 407 years with its list of forbidden books. Second, print journals’ pre-publication peer-review process is so seriously flawed that it should be scrapped. Interesting examples of each of the 3 types of flaws are given. One example recites my experience with an unethical journal editor (Alexander Bird). Third, end-of-process inspection is an ineffective quality-control system. And fourth, the internet is a far better distribution system than the one print journals use.