Our Founding Principles

"Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives."

The Athenaeum Salon operates on principles established by the great intellectual salons of history. We believe that meaningful discourse emerges from the intersection of rigorous scholarship, creative expression, and respectful dialogue.

Community Standards

🎩 Respectful Discourse

All interactions within the Athenaeum must be conducted with the utmost respect for fellow members, their ideas, and their contributions. Disagreement is welcome and encouraged, but must be expressed through reasoned argument rather than personal attack.

  • Address ideas, not individuals
  • Acknowledge the strength in opposing viewpoints
  • Use evidence and reasoning to support your positions
  • Maintain professional courtesy in all communications
  • Avoid inflammatory language or personal insults

📚 Intellectual Integrity

Honesty and transparency are fundamental to scholarly discourse. All work submitted must be original, properly attributed, and presented with intellectual honesty. Plagiarism, misrepresentation, or academic dishonesty of any kind will result in immediate membership review.

  • Submit only original work or properly cited materials
  • Acknowledge all sources, influences, and collaborators
  • Disclose potential conflicts of interest
  • Correct errors promptly when discovered
  • Maintain transparency in methodology and reasoning

🎨 Quality Standards

The Athenaeum maintains rigorous standards for all submissions and contributions. Work should demonstrate serious engagement with subject matter, clear communication of ideas, and meaningful contribution to ongoing scholarly or creative dialogue.

  • Demonstrate mastery of your subject matter
  • Present ideas clearly and compellingly
  • Engage meaningfully with existing scholarship
  • Contribute original insights or perspectives
  • Meet technical and formal requirements for your discipline

Submission Guidelines

📚 Libraray Guidelines

Essays & Articles:

  • Length: 800-3,000 words
  • Clear thesis and argumentation
  • Proper citations required
  • Original analysis or interpretation

Creative Writing:

  • Poetry: Any form, up to 50 lines
  • Fiction: Up to 5,000 words
  • Original work only
  • Brief artist statement encouraged

🎨 Pinakothek Guidelines

Technical Requirements:

  • High resolution (300 DPI minimum)
  • Maximum file size: 50MB
  • Formats: JPG, PNG, TIFF, PDF
  • Color calibration recommended

Content Standards:

  • Original artwork only
  • Artist statement (100-500 words)
  • Technical details required
  • Copyright clearance if applicable

🔬 Science Guidelines

Research Papers:

  • Standard scientific format
  • Peer-review quality expected
  • Complete methodology section
  • Statistical analysis if applicable

Data Requirements:

  • Raw data availability statement
  • Reproducible methods
  • Ethical approval documentation
  • Conflict of interest disclosure

💭 Philosophy Guidelines

Original Essays:

  • Clear thesis and argumentation
  • Length: 1,500-8,000 words
  • Engagement with primary sources
  • Original philosophical insight

Applied Philosophy:

  • Real-world relevance
  • Practical implications
  • Ethical considerations
  • Cross-disciplinary connections