Why Today’s Universities Don’t Care About Plagiarism: An Interview with Ben Bayer
May 20, 2024
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Ben Bayer, an expert in academic plagiarism, discusses the morality of altruism in academia and the indifference towards combating plagiarism. Topics include personal experiences combating plagiarism, the value of honesty in achieving personal values, and the relationship between academic dishonesty and individual value creation.
Academic plagiarism reflects a moral indifference influenced by altruism, neglecting virtues like honesty and integrity.
Plagiarism undermines personal growth, distorts education, and imposes costs on stakeholders, urging ethical prioritization.
Deep dives
Plagiarism at Universities: Ethics and Hypocrisy
The prevalence of plagiarism at universities, exemplified by Cloughine Gay's resignation from Harvard due to plagiarism allegations, sheds light on a widespread issue in academia. Despite significant resources invested in diversity and inclusion efforts, concerns of academic dishonesty are not given equal attention. This disparity raises questions about universities' priorities and ethical standards, suggesting a disconnect between the emphasis on social justice issues versus academic integrity concerns.
Academic Integrity and Ethical Philosophy
Ben Baer's article on plagiarism highlights a profound connection between ethical philosophy and academic culture. The focus on moral values of altruism and victimization in academic ethics neglects the importance of virtues like honesty and integrity. This shift in ethical priorities reflects a broader societal trend where morality is viewed through the lens of altruism, emphasizing service to others over personal values and truth-seeking behaviors.
Impact of Plagiarism on Individuals and Institutions
Plagiarism not only undermines individual academic growth by cheating oneself of learning opportunities, but it also defrauds educators and institutions. The act of plagiarism distorts the educational process, deceiving instructors who provide feedback and support for intellectual development. Moreover, it imposes financial costs on stakeholders, such as parents and taxpayers, contributing to a broader issue of academic integrity on both personal and institutional levels.
The Moral Imperative of Honesty and Virtue
Emphasizing the fundamental value of morality in promoting self-interest and personal growth, Ben Baer underscores the necessity of moral virtues like honesty and justice. By illuminating the link between virtues and essential values such as reason, purpose, and self-esteem, the article underscores the role of virtues as means to achieve flourishing and happiness. The discussion challenges conventional views of morality rooted in altruism and highlights the intrinsic connection between virtues and individual well-being.
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.
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