Homer is the foundation of Western culture. Does Classical Wisdom have a book and/or video series that summarizes Greek mythology? I think that'd be a great project!
It seems like some concensus could be reached regarding length of passage copied and relevance of original topic to subsequent writing. For example, how is it possible, oh wait, did I just kidnap Michael Wilcox's opening words?
There is a clear distinction between a common expression being used and lifting an entire paragraph verbatim and presenting it as your own. Admittedly, the line can get blurry, but I would hope that the fact plagiarism is ancient and has been weaponized in the past wouldn't blind us to the actions of certain university presidents writing in an arena where it is well understood that discovered plagiarism has consequences.
Believe it or not, the excuse Terence gave when he was busted is exactly the same you suggest here: the "whaddya, whaddya" approach. It seems Terence was obviously guilty because instead of denying stealing the two characters, he instead poses the rhetorical question of how anyone can ever *really* be original anyway? Because don't we all use the same stock characters, words, phrases... Which isn't, of course, relevant, because he's been busted stealing specific characters.
Incidentally, this seems to have worked, because the plagiarism charge didn't impede his career. Terence went on to stage two more comedies in the next year and a half (Phormio later in 161 and then Adelphoe in 160).
How is it possible to be exhilarated by a few words from a man who knows his stuff, to see a slice of the great vista of antiquity from a door thus opened, reaching tendril like into every pore of modernity.
I guess that may be a partial answer to your question; precision matters because our language, the gargantuan depth of it, embodies who we are. A proclivity towards accuracy over time is the only thing that preserves its sublime beauty and utility.
Homer is the foundation of Western culture. Does Classical Wisdom have a book and/or video series that summarizes Greek mythology? I think that'd be a great project!
There are too many to choose from truth be told!
It seems like some concensus could be reached regarding length of passage copied and relevance of original topic to subsequent writing. For example, how is it possible, oh wait, did I just kidnap Michael Wilcox's opening words?
There is a clear distinction between a common expression being used and lifting an entire paragraph verbatim and presenting it as your own. Admittedly, the line can get blurry, but I would hope that the fact plagiarism is ancient and has been weaponized in the past wouldn't blind us to the actions of certain university presidents writing in an arena where it is well understood that discovered plagiarism has consequences.
Hi Mark,
Believe it or not, the excuse Terence gave when he was busted is exactly the same you suggest here: the "whaddya, whaddya" approach. It seems Terence was obviously guilty because instead of denying stealing the two characters, he instead poses the rhetorical question of how anyone can ever *really* be original anyway? Because don't we all use the same stock characters, words, phrases... Which isn't, of course, relevant, because he's been busted stealing specific characters.
Incidentally, this seems to have worked, because the plagiarism charge didn't impede his career. Terence went on to stage two more comedies in the next year and a half (Phormio later in 161 and then Adelphoe in 160).
How is it possible to be exhilarated by a few words from a man who knows his stuff, to see a slice of the great vista of antiquity from a door thus opened, reaching tendril like into every pore of modernity.
I guess that may be a partial answer to your question; precision matters because our language, the gargantuan depth of it, embodies who we are. A proclivity towards accuracy over time is the only thing that preserves its sublime beauty and utility.