Post-Modernism is often represented as "there is no such thing as
ownership", as George is well known for attempting to refute. However,
this is not a black and white world. We can choose to avoid the
extremes of "property is theft" OR to require that "everything is
owned" - including my DNA, which in America at least can be patented by
any doctor who took a sample and did a bit of lab work! Both positions
are valid at the same time. Neither are sufficient alone.
Essays on plagiarism are a reflection of the fact that the academic
community are discussing the issue (finally). However, I believe it's
going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better:
1) Denial - about 6 years ago
2) Panic - about 4 years ago
3) Attempted Quick Fix - 2 years ago until the present day
4) Panic - The next two years?
5) Resolution - Not as soon as we would like
6) And on to the next crisis in HE...
Stage 2 was all about the students. Stage 4 will be about the
lecturers, and may require a good deal of soul searching. However, I
don't agree that we should point the finger exclusively at lecturers -
although I have regularly gone on the record saying we should look at
learning practice and assessment strategies - or the students either -
Is it just me that gets sick of seeing 'cheat' and other emotive words
being used as if the student body are some sort of low life scum?
The world is not black and white. No matter how comfortable it is to
totally blame others, or ourselves. Hair shirts solve nothing.
Mike
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