The Great Conversation Continues with
Dr. Bernard Gert
It is surprising, and a little disheartening, that very few philosophers
who are involved in teaching applied and professional ethics are concerned
with the concept of cheating, for this topic involves their own profession.
The failure to examine the concept of cheating may be due to the view
that an analysis of cheating is unnecessary because cheating, like
lying, is simply a subclass of deception. Alternatively, the view that
an analysis of cheating is unnecessary may be based on the view that
cheating is only a special case of breaking one's promise. Most cheating does involve deception and so cheating may seem to
necessarily involve deception. Cheating also seems to be closely related to breaking a promise; although to account for most cases of cheating,
it must be the breaking of an implicit promise. In order to show the inadequacy of both of these views requires an analysis of the concept
of
cheating.
