Current characteristics of the social practice of publishing in science

Abstract

The editorial offers a perspective on the historical evolution and current characteristics of scientific publishing as a social practice. It also highlights the need to validate knowledge through academic critique and how the printing press, modernity, and the scientific method transformed its legitimacy. Currently, interdisciplinarity, collaborative work, and co-authorship are emphasized, democratizing the production and dissemination of knowledge. Furthermore, globalization and digital technologies broaden the circulation of knowledge, while institutionalization imposes strict regulations, and the overabundance of publications generates a parallel system of scientific management and market.