About
The Editor
Jeremy Bensman has a master's degree in philosophy and wrote his thesis on the work of Michel Foucault. In addition to freelance editing, he currently works for the human rights nonprofit MindFreedom International, where (among other things) he edits grants, letters, and brochures. He is also a contributing editor of the upcoming issue of the MindFreedom Journal. He has experience editing a wide range of work, including newsletters, business correspondence, reports, academic papers, and website content.
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The Glaucon Name
Glaucon is a Greek word with associations that are very useful to keep in mind as an editor. First of all, it is an inflected form of the word glaux, or 'owl,' and shares its root with glaucos, which means 'gleaming.' The shining eyes of an owl suggest the chief virtue of a good editor: unfailing attention to detail.
In this same vein, Homer's epithet for Athena, glaucopis, means 'with gleaming eyes' or simply 'owl-eyed.' Athena is the goddess not only of wisdom but of invention and artifice. This serves as a reminder that the purpose of a good editor's technique is to provide an author with the greatest possible scope for creativity and experimentation. The author creates while the editor keeps both eyes fixed on the craftsmanship.
Finally, Glaucon is the name of Plato's brother, companion to Socrates in his famous descent to the Piraeus in the Republic. This illustrates the ideal relationship between author and editor. The editor is a knowledgeable traveling companion with a keen eye for detail, but one who remains resolutely in the background.