Mind (journal)

Mind (journal)
Title	Mind
Discipline	Philosophy
Language	English
Editor	Lucy O'Brien
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Country	United Kingdom
History	1876–present
Frequency	Quarterly
ISSN	0026-4423
EISSN	1460-2113

Mind (journal). It is a premier quarterly academic journal in the field of philosophy, published by Oxford University Press. Founded in 1876, it is one of the oldest and most respected periodicals in the discipline, renowned for publishing influential work across all major areas of philosophical inquiry. The journal has been edited by a succession of distinguished philosophers and has played a central role in the development of analytic philosophy.

History and founding

The journal was established in 1876 by the Scottish philosopher Alexander Bain, with the initial assistance of George Croom Robertson who served as its first editor. Its founding was a significant event in the professionalization of philosophy in the United Kingdom, providing a dedicated venue for scholarly debate. Early volumes featured contributions from pioneering figures like William James, who wrote on pragmatism, and Francis Herbert Bradley, a leading idealist. Under the long editorship of George Edward Moore beginning in 1921, the journal became a principal organ for the emerging analytic philosophy movement, cementing its place at the forefront of the discipline.

Scope and content

*Mind* publishes articles, discussions, and book reviews spanning the full breadth of contemporary philosophical research. Its core areas of focus include philosophy of mind, epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of language, and moral philosophy. The journal is also known for its engagement with the history of philosophy, particularly figures like Immanuel Kant, David Hume, and Ludwig Wittgenstein. It frequently features debates on central problems such as consciousness, free will, personal identity, and the nature of truth, often publishing symposia and critical notices that shape ongoing scholarly conversations.

Editorial policies and peer review

The journal operates under a rigorous double-anonymous peer review process, where the identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed to ensure impartial evaluation. The editor-in-chief, a position held by notable philosophers including Gilbert Ryle, David Pears, and currently Lucy O'Brien, is supported by an international board of associate editors. *Mind* maintains high standards of clarity, argumentative rigor, and originality, accepting submissions from philosophers worldwide. Its editorial policies are designed to uphold its reputation for publishing work of the highest scholarly quality and philosophical significance.

Impact and influence

*Mind* is consistently ranked among the top journals in philosophy, with a high impact factor and a wide international readership. Articles published in the journal are frequently cited in major works and have historically set the agenda for philosophical research; for instance, Alan Turing's seminal 1950 paper "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" appeared in its pages. It is considered essential reading for academic philosophers and is widely held in university libraries, including those at Harvard University, the University of Oxford, and the Australian National University. The journal's influence extends into related fields such as cognitive science, linguistics, and artificial intelligence.

Notable articles and contributors

The journal has published landmark papers that have defined philosophical debates. Key contributions include Bertrand Russell's "On Denoting", John Searle's "Minds, Brains, and Programs", and Frank Jackson's "Epiphenomenal Qualia". Other eminent contributors across its history include Gottlob Frege, Alfred North Whitehead, Simone de Beauvoir, Willard Van Orman Quine, Saul Kripke, Derek Parfit, and Philippa Foot. The annual *Mind* Lecture, delivered at the University of Oxford, is a prestigious event often associated with the journal, featuring talks by leading thinkers like Tyler Burge and Ned Block.

Related publications and society

While *Mind* is an independent publication, it is closely associated with the Mind Association, a learned society founded in 1900 which owns the journal's trademark and supports its mission. The Association organizes the annual Joint Session of the Aristotelian Society and the Mind Association, a major conference in British philosophy. Related top-tier publications in the field include The Philosophical Review, Journal of Philosophy, and Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society. *Mind* also occasionally publishes special issues or supplements in collaboration with institutions like the British Academy.

Category:Philosophy journals Category:Oxford University Press academic journals Category:Publications established in 1876