How Shall We Thank Thy Merit?

Abstract

Although Henry Fielding’s play, The Tragedy of Tragedies, or the Life and Death of Tom Thumb the Great, was known primarily for its political satire in its day, the heroic character of Tom Thumb—diminutive in height only—has long endured. Described by Fielding as a “little Hero with a great Soul” (Fielding 1731, under “Dramatis Personae”) and a “Godlike Creature” (Fielding 1731, I.iii.7), Thumb exemplifies both bravery and modesty, the latter of which is a “Candle to [his] Merit/It shines itself, and shews thy Merit too” (I.iii.8–9). Like the king in Thumb’s tale, we at the Journal of Bioethical Inquiry owe a debt to many often unrecognized champions who ask for no thanks in return. They serve their duty to the important scholastic process of peer review, sharing their expertise and offering their time to ensure quality in the production of knowledge and to continue the professional dialogue that is so essential to the academic enterprise. While we know that there is perhaps no gratitude that “can thank away the Debt,” we at the JBI would like to continue an annual tradition begun two years ago in our 8(4) issue of formally thanking our peer reviewers and all those who have made the Journal of Bioethical Inquiry possible. Please find below the names of all who have served as a peer reviewer for one or more articles over the past year and a quarter, from September 2012 to December 2013. We also wish to thank all of our contributors, advisory board members, editorial board chair, managing and copy editors, executive committee members, associate editors, publishing and production editors, members of the publishing team, and—most of all—readers of the JBI. Thank you for your continued efforts and another interesting and enlightening year at the Journal of Bioethical Inquiry.