Plagiarism in Academia: A Moral Quandary

https://youtu.be/8NdmIOYTB4s Podcast audio: In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer is interviewed by Ziemowit Gowin about his article on the phenomenon of academic plagiarism following the resignation of Harvard University president, Claudine Gay. They discuss why academia’s greater interest in combating issues such as sexism and racism over academic dishonesty is consistent with their deeper view of morality. Among the topics covered: Bayer's personal experience combating student plagiarism as a former professor; How the morality of altruism creates an indifference to academic dishonesty; How plagiarists cheat themselves of the value of knowing and living in reality; How altruism prevents us from seeing how plagiarists harm those they deceive; Why we need moral virtues, like honesty, for achieving personal values in life; How academic plagiarism relates to the deeper topic of individual value creation. Recommended in this podcast are Bayer’s “The Real Problem with Plagiarism,” “Why Scientific Progress in Ethics Is Frozen,” and “The Old Morality of the New Religions,” and the Ayn Rand Lexicon’s entry on “Honesty.” The podcast was recorded on May 16, 2024. Listen and subscribe from your mobile device on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Watch archived podcasts here.