Manuscript Preparation Guidelines

Authors intending to submit a manuscript to the journal must carefully follow these guidelines to ensure an efficient and timely peer‑review process.

Article Type and General Requirements

The journal publishes original research articles. The journal also welcomes theoretical papers that aim to develop or propose philosophical theories, or that offer rigorous scholarly critiques of existing theories by established scholars and experts in the field.

• Word count and formatting:

Submitted articles must be written in B Lotus font, size 13, with 1.0 line spacing, and must be no fewer than 6,500 words and no more than 8,000 words.

• Language:

The primary language of the journal’s regular issues is Persian. However, submission requires the inclusion of an extended English abstract (800–1,000 words) and a bibliography (references) in English.

• File format:

Manuscripts must be submitted in editable file formats, preferably Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx), using a single‑column layout. Submission of a PDF file alone is not accepted as the main manuscript file.

• Language quality:

Authors are advised to proofread their manuscripts carefully for spelling and grammatical accuracy prior to submission. For preparing the extended English abstract, authors should not rely solely on artificial intelligence or similar technologies. Such tools may be used for translation assistance; however, the final text must be reviewed by a language expert.

• Anonymization:

As the journal follows a double‑blind peer‑review policy, the main manuscript file must be fully anonymized. This means that authors’ names, institutional affiliations, and any explicit acknowledgements that could reveal identity must be removed from the main text, figures, and captions.

When citing their own previous work, authors should avoid phrases such as “our previous research” and instead use neutral expressions like “previous studies have shown…”.

Authors must also remove personal information from the Word file properties:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/remove-hidden-data-and-personal-information-by-inspecting-documents-presentations-or-workbooks-356b7b5d-77af-44fe-a07f-9aa4d085966f

Required Files for Manuscript Submission

Authors are required to upload the following five files through the journal’s online submission system:

1. Main Manuscript File

This file must include the abstract, keywords, main text, tables, figures, and references, and must not contain the names of the authors or any identifying information.

2. Title Page File

The title page must include the following identifying information:

• Article Title: The title should be concise, clear, and free of abbreviations (except for very well‑known ones).
• Author Information: The full first and last name of each author, listed exactly in the order in which they should appear in the final publication.
• Affiliation: The complete institutional postal address, including the city, country, and postal code of the institution where the research was conducted.
• Corresponding Author: Must be clearly identified and provide an active email address and a contact phone number for correspondence.
• ORCID iD: Authors are encouraged to provide their ORCID identifier (https://orcid.org).
• Funding Sources: Details of all sources of financial support for the research must be stated in a section titled “Funding”.
• Acknowledgements: Any acknowledgements of individuals who contributed to the work (e.g., editorial or language assistance) should be included in this section and presented separately from the main manuscript text.

*(Template download: You may download the prepared title page template from the following link:

https://zenodo.org/records/17764689/files/Title_Page_Template_for_Manuscript_Submission.docx?download=1)*

3. Conflict of Interest Declaration Form

This form must be signed by the corresponding author. The form is available at the bottom of this page.

4. Cover Letter

A formal letter written by the corresponding author and addressed to the Editor‑in‑Chief, stating the title of the manuscript and confirming its originality, that it has not been submitted simultaneously to another journal, and that the principles of publication ethics have been fully observed.

5. Samim Noor Plagiarism Check Certificate

The author is required to visit the Samim Noor website, obtain the plagiarism similarity check certificate, and upload it to the journal’s submission system.

 

Article Structure and Format

1. Abstract

The abstract should be concise and well‑documented, with a length of 150 to 200 words. It must summarize the research objective, key findings, and main conclusions. The abstract should be self‑contained, understandable on its own, and not refer to external sources or undefined abbreviations.

(For detailed guidelines on writing a standard abstract, see: ANSI/NISO Z39.14-1997(R2015): Guidelines for Abstracts)

A structured abstract is recommended, including the following elements:

• Purpose – Why the research was conducted
• Design/Methodology/Approach – How the research was carried out
• Findings – What was discovered (use precise data, avoid vague wording)
• Value/Originality (or Conclusion) – The paper’s innovation and contribution to knowledge

Authors are also required to submit an extended English abstract for accepted papers. This extended abstract should be between 1,000 and 1,200 words.

2. Keywords

Provide three to five keywords that cover the main topics of the article. These are essential for indexing and search engine optimization (SEO).

(For more on choosing effective keywords, see: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.1222)

Including a highlights section is optional but strongly recommended. Highlights should be submitted in a separate editable file containing 3 to 5 bullet points, each not exceeding 85 characters (including spaces).

These points should emphasize the study’s innovative results and new methodologies, helping increase the paper’s visibility.

3.Main Body of the Manuscript

The manuscript text should be organized into clearly numbered sections (e.g., 1, 2, 3) and subsections (e.g., 1‑1, 1‑1‑1).

While authors are not required to strictly follow a fixed structure, manuscripts generally include the following sections:

• Introduction:

Introduces the research objectives, explains the significance of the topic, provides necessary background, and clearly states the article’s contribution to existing knowledge.

• Literature Review:

Reviews the current state of scholarship on the topic using an analytical and critical approach, rather than a purely descriptive one.

• Methodology:

Describes the research methods clearly and transparently.

• Findings/Results:

Focuses on the principal results and issues of broader significance. Key findings are preferably presented in tables or figures.

• Discussion and Conclusion:

Summarizes the main argument, highlights key results, discusses research limitations, and outlines implications for future research and practical applications.

 

4.Tables, Figures, Charts, and Illustrations

All visual and tabular elements must be properly prepared and cited sequentially in the text.

• Tables

• Tables must be submitted as editable text, not as images.
• Use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) for numbering.
• Table titles should be placed above the table.
• Explanatory notes should appear below the table body.
• Avoid vertical lines and shading.
• Follow APA Style guidelines for tables:https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/tables-figures/tables

• Figures and Images

• Image resolution must be high:
• ≥300 dpi for halftone images/photographs,
• ≥1000 dpi for line drawings.
• Figures should follow APA Style standards:https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/tables-figures/figures
• All images must accurately reflect the original data.
• Adjustments (e.g., brightness or contrast) are permitted only if applied uniformly across the entire image and do not obscure or remove essential information.

Use of Generative AI in Images:

The use of generative AI or AI‑assisted tools to create or manipulate images is generally prohibited.

Exception: If AI tools are an integral part of the research design (e.g., biomedical imaging), the tool name, version, and exact method of use must be fully and reproducibly described in the Methodology section.

The creation of artistic images, cover designs, or graphical abstracts using generative AI is strictly prohibited.

• Additional Requirements

• Information presented in tables must not be duplicated in figures or charts.
• Each table column must have a clear heading and unit of measurement.
• If all values share the same unit, it may be stated in the table title.
• Figures and maps must be clear, legible, properly scaled, and of publishable quality.
• If color printing is required, additional costs may apply.
• Where available, DOIs for electronic sources should be included in references (e.g., doi:10.1000/182).

 

Editorial Rights and Author Responsibility

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial screening before entering the peer‑review process. The final decision regarding acceptance or rejection rests with the Editorial Board of The Journal of Philosophy and Kalam.

The journal reserves the right to accept, reject, or edit manuscripts and regrets that submitted materials cannot be returned.

Legal responsibility for the accuracy and validity of the article’s content rests solely with the author(s).

5.References and Citation

The journal follows the APA Style guidelines

(https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples).

For detailed instructions and special cases, authors should consult the official APA Style website:

https://apastyle.apa.org

• In-text citations:

Must follow the APA author–date format.

• Reference list:

The reference list must include only those works that are cited in the text, and all cited works must appear in the reference list. Entries should be arranged in alphabetical order.

• Reference management software:

To minimize formatting errors, authors are strongly encouraged to use reference management tools such as EndNote, Mendeley, or Zotero.

• DOI (Digital Object Identifier):

Providing a DOI for all references where available is mandatory, as it ensures permanent linking and enhances the retrievability of the article.

• Data citation:

Authors must cite any underlying or related datasets used in the research. Data citations should include the dataset title, repository name, year of publication, and a persistent identifier (DOI), and must be listed in the reference section.

 

• In the reference list, Persian and Arabic sources should be listed first, followed by Latin (English and other non‑Persian) sources.
• Persian and Arabic sources must be included twice in the reference list: once in their original language (Persian or Arabic) and once translated into English. The English translations of Persian and Arabic sources should be placed among the English references, after the Persian and Arabic section.

For further guidance, authors are advised to consult the reference sections of articles published in recent issues of the journal.

 

Supplementary Materials and Data

Supplementary materials refer to content that enhances the value of the research but is not essential for understanding the main findings (e.g., extensive datasets, videos, methodological details, or appendices).

• These files must be uploaded simultaneously with the main manuscript for peer review.
• Supplementary materials will be published online only.
• They will be published exactly as received; therefore, authors are responsible for ensuring correct formatting prior to submission.
• Standard formats such as PDF, Excel, and common video formats are accepted.
• All supplementary files must be explicitly cited in the main text of the article.

• Data Availability Statement (DAS)

All original research articles must include a Data Availability Statement, explaining:

• how the research data can be accessed (e.g., deposited in a public repository), or
• why the data cannot be shared (e.g., due to privacy concerns or sensitive information).

Sharing data through public repositories is strongly encouraged, as it demonstrates scientific transparency and, according to empirical evidence, may increase citation impact.

 

Common Problems in Manuscripts and Important Notes

• Main manuscript file name (Word):

The file name must contain only the English title of the article.

Author names or identifying information must not appear in the file name.

• Use of outdated guidelines:

Submissions prepared according to older versions of the author guidelines will not be accepted.

The updated guidelines and the authors’ declaration form are available on the journal website.

• Multiple submissions:

Authors must upload their manuscript only once.

If a manuscript is mistakenly submitted multiple times and assigned different tracking codes, authors must withdraw all duplicate submissions, ensuring that only one manuscript with a single tracking code remains under review.

• Table clarity:

Tables must follow the journal’s format and be clear and readable in both the printed version and the electronic (PDF) version.

• In-text citation and referencing:

In many submissions, APA-style in-text citations and reference formatting are not properly observed.

• English keywords:

English keywords must be accurate translations of the Persian keywords and should be listed in order of importance below the abstract.

• Acceptance certificate:

Requests for an acceptance certificate prior to final approval by the Editorial Board or through informal/manual means will not be considered.

A manuscript will not be reviewed by the Editorial Board, nor will an acceptance certificate be issued, until it fully complies with the journal’s author guidelines.

• Editorial authority and revisions:

The Editorial Board reserves the right to accept, reject, or request revisions at any stage of the publication process.

Failure or refusal by the author(s) to implement the reviewers’ or Editorial Board’s required revisions will be regarded as withdrawal of the manuscript.

• Author responsibility:

Full responsibility for the accuracy of the content, expressed opinions, and observance of authors’ and researchers’ rights rests entirely with the author(s).

 

Extended Abstract

Upon acceptance of the article, the author(s) are required to prepare an extended abstract of the paper in native (standard) English, consisting of 1,000 to 1,200 words, and upload it to the journal’s submission system.

The extended abstract should include the following five sections:

• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Research Findings
• Conclusion

For further guidance on how to prepare the extended abstract, authors are advised to consult the extended abstracts of articles published in recent issues of the journal.

Article Processing Charges (APC)

To cover the costs associated with peer review, publication, and dissemination, the following fees apply:

• Initial Review Fee:

An amount of 4,000,000 IRR is required at the time of submission for sending the manuscript to peer review.

• Publication Fee:

Upon final acceptance of the manuscript, an additional 5,000,000 IRR will be charged for publication.

• Refund Policy:

If the manuscript is rejected by the reviewers, the initial review fee of 4,000,000 IRR is non‑refundable.

• Payment Method:

All payments must be made online through the journal’s submission system.

 

Conflict of Interest Declaration Form