Historical Ethic's?

Question

Last semester, I was assigned to do a book review on a book about the abolishment of slavery. Happen to be taking a course in women's lit as well...came across writing from a woman of this time period who wasn't in the book. Which I thought was weird as the book was written...to show the involvement of the underdogs..not just the political leaders. Continued reading, the author included no women. So I researched it. I came up with over 50 women who played small to HUGE roles in this movement. Of course i wrote up my review based on this research. My professor, asked my permission to review my work, add his name to it rewrote it and turned it in to the boss of the author.

Just got an email that the author has been fired. He was an awarded winning historical author and a professor at Pembroke! oops!

I'm feeling more then a little guilty over this...do you think I did the right thing?

Or did this man who presented his work as historical truth get what he deserved?

Answer 1

Lol - surely you couldn't have been responsible though - there must be something more going on here?  You'd think they would have just asked him or he would have embarrassed by his omission?  Maybe he threw a hissy fit about them wanting to put the women in and that was what led to it  :-)

Answer 2

There is a law against plagiarism but not one against stupidity  or denial. You did right except it's difficult to understand how this book became a part of the curriculum.

Answer 3

lol!  it's this guy's fault for being flat out lazy.  had this been his first infraction my guess is that the school would have given him some leeway, but this is probably not the first time he ignored the facts or didn't want to actually do the necessary work.  even if this guy was blindsided it was your professor that turned this guy in - it's no shame for you.  really you did a good thing by getting someone who was not spreading the truth out of academia (what if all authors and professors were like him??  we wouldn't know if anything was accurate!)

Answer 4

Based on the information provided, you can only assume that you were responsible for his firing. I think you have given yourself far too much credit.

Answer 5

You shouldn't feel really guilty. He was wrong to exclude so many important figures. He may not have meant to come off as anti-female, but he obviously missed something big. You didn't make the decision to fire him. You simply pointed out a fact that was passed on. His superiors found just cause to do so, not you.

An error is an error. They should be corrected.

Kudos for you on being so thorough. I think it's wonderful.

(And it shows character that you're concerned regarding this.)

Answer 6

Congratulations A*SSSHOOLE, you just cost a person their job!!!! Kidding of course, there must have been something else going on here.

I am sorta confused, you did a book review on the abolishing of slavery, but in your women's literature class, you found some literature from a woman of the time period? Did it involve slavery?

I don't see the problem in omitting certain things from a historical record, obviously there are other scholars who would pick up where he left off. If his research dealt strictly on the abolishing of slavery, is he obligated to include each and every person that contributed? Perhaps he wanted to look at certain aspects and not others.

Really hard to answer this question without more information.

Ultimately though, I'd say you are not responsible for his firing..

Answer 7

wow, you sure the author was let go over this particular incident?  i think there might be more to it.  maybe other offenses or plain incompetence is plausible.  don't beat yourself up, in either case.  you wrote an honest paper... and frankly it's about time people got the whole story.

good job rose.