[lbo-talk] Re: plagarism watch

Michael Dawson MDawson at pdx.edu
Thu Dec 23 09:47:47 PST 2004


Hey Brian, these guys are denying that individual work exists. Standing on the shoulders of giants is surely half the story of genius. So is individual alteration of previous inheritances, which we all receive as a gift from our ancestors.

It's amazing to watch these guys who think they're ultra-cutting-edge excise the individual from the world. I'd give their arguments a "C+" in my intro to sociology class. No society; no individuals. No individuals, no society or conscious social change.

Don't let them fluster you. Your playwright deserves to get paid, if his play proves worthy.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org [mailto:lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org]
> On Behalf Of Brian Charles Dauth
> Sent: Thursday, December 23, 2004 4:48 AM
> To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
> Subject: [lbo-talk] Re: plagarism watch
>
> Dear List:
>
> Justin writes:
>
> > But there are a bunch of problems. He's not doing
> it alone.
>
> Well, I haven't seen anyone else in our apartment typing
> with him. LOL.
>
> > How much is his contribution and to what and how much
> does that (morally) entitle him?
>
> I do not know. That is why I was asking.
>
> > Suppose writing the play is a breeze for him. Has he contributed
> less than if it were an agony?
>
> No. Why should that matter?
>
> > Does it matter how much time he takes writing it?\\
>
> No. A work of art takes the time it takes.
>
> > Also, even if he has a right to the product of "his" labors,
> it doesn't follow that he has a right to the fruit of that product,
> e.g., the profit, if any, from selling it in the market.
>
> Why? Isn't part of the struggle getting workers the right to
> the fruit of their labors?
>
> > Plagiarism is conscious copying.
>
> Okay. Got it.
>
> > Btw, I don't think there are a finite # of ways to look at
> Hitchcock or any great artist.
>
> I think we are finite creatures in a finite universe. I do not believe
> that the finite can give rise to the infinite. I think the bigger problem
> is that capitalist culture puts apremium on originality instead of
> usefulness.
> I think it is much healthier to be pragmatic (didn't James say pragmatism
> was just a new name for old ways of thinking?) than original. An
> emphasis on usefulness also cuts down on the cult of self.
>
> Brian Dauth
> Queer Buddhist Resister
>
>
> ___________________________________
> http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk



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