2008 Woodie Awards
Maddux reflects on Plagiarism
Stephanie Walker
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: News
"When Is Plagiarism Not Plagiarism? Cotton Mathew and American Academic Tradition" was the third Library Athenaeum in the series of 10 this fall.
Clark Maddux, assistant professor of English, spoke about Cotton Mather. Mather (1663-1728) was a puritan and a minister of Boston's Old North Church, according to the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law Web site (www.law.umkc.edu). Mather is widely known for is his role in the Salem Witch Trials; he was also known as a plagiarist. "Plagiarism is kidnapping some else's ideas … Mather does that," Maddux said.
Mather wrote more than 300 books in his lifetime, including many written commentaries that were filled with controversial questions.
Mather, like others in his time period, did not recognize his sources. In the 18th century, plagiarism, which is based on the right to own intellectual property, did not exist. Even though by present day standards what Mather and many others in that time did is classified as plagiarism, it was acceptable and common then.
In Mather's "Biblia Americana," he takes whole sections and paragraphs from other writers on the same subjects. Simon Patrick wrote "A Commentary Upon the Two Books of Chronicles: Ezra, Nehemiah, & Esther (by Symond, Lord Bishop of Ely)"; Mather took two full paragraphs and placed it in his work, verbatim. Mather defended his writing method by stating it was for the greater glory of God and not for his personal increase of fame.
Near the end of the presentation, students asked about the reasoning behind Mather's writing method and why it is no longer acceptable today.
In Mather's time, many people believed knowledge was decreasing and limited; writers simply reproduced the ideas and concepts of others, adding their own opinion with it. The technology of organizing knowledge and the concern of owning ideas has since changed the writing method, according to Maddux.
The purpose of the Library Athenaeum series is to host events that will promote and enhance intellectual life of the university and the region, according to the library's Web site.
"Student Presidential Debate", the next athenaeum presentation, will be held on 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 16, by College Democrats, College Republicans, Pi Sigma Alpha and Pre-Law Society.
All athenaeums are held on the third floor of the Felix G. Woodward Library.These events are free and open to the public.
Clark Maddux, assistant professor of English, spoke about Cotton Mather. Mather (1663-1728) was a puritan and a minister of Boston's Old North Church, according to the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law Web site (www.law.umkc.edu). Mather is widely known for is his role in the Salem Witch Trials; he was also known as a plagiarist. "Plagiarism is kidnapping some else's ideas … Mather does that," Maddux said.
Mather wrote more than 300 books in his lifetime, including many written commentaries that were filled with controversial questions.
Mather, like others in his time period, did not recognize his sources. In the 18th century, plagiarism, which is based on the right to own intellectual property, did not exist. Even though by present day standards what Mather and many others in that time did is classified as plagiarism, it was acceptable and common then.
In Mather's "Biblia Americana," he takes whole sections and paragraphs from other writers on the same subjects. Simon Patrick wrote "A Commentary Upon the Two Books of Chronicles: Ezra, Nehemiah, & Esther (by Symond, Lord Bishop of Ely)"; Mather took two full paragraphs and placed it in his work, verbatim. Mather defended his writing method by stating it was for the greater glory of God and not for his personal increase of fame.
Near the end of the presentation, students asked about the reasoning behind Mather's writing method and why it is no longer acceptable today.
In Mather's time, many people believed knowledge was decreasing and limited; writers simply reproduced the ideas and concepts of others, adding their own opinion with it. The technology of organizing knowledge and the concern of owning ideas has since changed the writing method, according to Maddux.
The purpose of the Library Athenaeum series is to host events that will promote and enhance intellectual life of the university and the region, according to the library's Web site.
"Student Presidential Debate", the next athenaeum presentation, will be held on 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 16, by College Democrats, College Republicans, Pi Sigma Alpha and Pre-Law Society.
All athenaeums are held on the third floor of the Felix G. Woodward Library.These events are free and open to the public.
Be the first to comment on this story