Question:
Is asking an assignment question in this forum morally wrong?
Luke P
2007-01-05 02:41:58 UTC
It's rather obvious that a number of questions in this site are taken from university/college assignments. Should the act of putting them on here for someone else to answer be, in itself, a philosophical conundrum?
Sixteen answers:
2007-01-05 02:52:15 UTC
You definitely got a point there.

I think given the usual level of answers, chances are the askers are far from being at risk to get a blinding idea to borrow and make a philosophical breakthrough.

Now, some answers can work as mind-jogglers for some people, and it's always healthy to check one's ideas with what others think, lest you can find yourself roaming UN-reality.

Personal feelings, though
Kaoso
2007-01-05 03:57:46 UTC
When I was in university, I took a course in moral philosophy, and the professor made us turn in a signed piece of paper that stated that we had not talked to anyone about the assignment except for him or the teaching assistants for the course. In that case, it would be morally wrong. Of course, this was his way of posing a moral question to every student in the class. However, I think that unless the professor has explicitly asked that there be no outside consultation, then there is no moral question. Excluding, of course, questions of plagiarism. If a student wants to learn some more information, or have a new view point on the subject, then there is really no problem. But, if the student does a copy/paste of the answer provided without proper citation, then I think it would be morally wrong. It would also be quite reckless, as most of the answers provided here are not long enough, or developped enough to appropriately be considered a full answer to most of these questions.



As for our 'honor' statement, we just signed it and dated it (even though there was no place to put a date) when he handed out the form along with the assignment. That way, at the time of the signature, it was true. But, that does not necessarily exclude what happens after the dated signature is put on paper. (Philosophy students can be highly imaginitive.)
the_lipsiot
2007-01-05 03:10:13 UTC
Yes I think it is morally wrong but, more importantly, counter-productive and highly risky.



Getting someone else to answer defeats the point of an assignment in the first place and, looking at some of the morons and headcases that post on here, I wouldn't be sure of getting a valid answer anyway.
2007-01-05 03:20:06 UTC
well it's more about whether you wanna learn something in life or you just wanna pass your assignments and exams.



there is nothing wrong about discussing your assignment questions on the forums. it depends on how you put your questions. if you put the entire question and expect people to do your assignment for you, then that's not very good but if you ask for clarification and hints, then I see nothing wrong with that.



it also depends on what kind of assignment you have. if your assignment has a question such as "where is the Great Wall?", then asking this question in the forum is fine. If your assignment is about writing a computer program for generating reports on daily sales, it's wrong to ask someone to provide you the code. you can ask for algorithms and hints to solve this problem but shouldn't ask for the entire code.



so it all depends on how much you ask and also depends on your intentions. If you ask and genuinely learn from it, that's good. If you ask and copy other people's ideas just to get the assignment done, that's not right.
Deanna
2007-01-05 03:07:53 UTC
Questions to assignments can be asked, however, I don't think that the answers would be of much use in the assignment. It might provide anecdotal evidence, opinions (informed or otherwise) or hearsay, however, unless the answers are substantiated, referenced from a published and reliable source, they should not be used in assignment answers. The answers can be used as a starting point for further research into points of view of an argument in building the case for the response in the assignment .... and all that, if just my opinion. ;-)
2007-01-05 05:45:55 UTC
It is wrong if the asker uses the answers verbatim.



If the asker uses the answers as a way to look for insight and other points of view and help in clarifying his/her own thoughts, I think it is great.



Technically, philosophy means the love of wisdom.



If someone is just trying to get through a philosophy class they do not want to be taking, and getting us to do their work for them, they are the one who will pay, later in life for taking a shortcut. Because you get out of life what you put into it, and the coasters and cheaters, will not have very good or fulfilling lives.
wilma m
2007-01-05 03:22:09 UTC
What is morally wrong is that the asker wants quick answer but in fact demands for long research.

Aswering long deprives us of getting points by focusing to another question as it is discovered that many answerers are really unbeatables.
2007-01-05 04:44:27 UTC
Not necessarily. However it does raise a question about the level of these askers who wish to rely on Y!A rather than go to more reliable sources for their research. No wonder why America's top scientists come form abroad..
devildog18
2007-01-05 06:27:59 UTC
It's only morally wrong if it goes against YOUR morals. You can't decide what other people's morals are, so why worry about if others think it is wrong. What matters is if you think it is wrong. Your question, your answer, your morals.
pussnboots333
2007-01-05 02:45:20 UTC
i think if you're looking for a direct answer then yes it is wrong. If you're looking for opinions, then no. Sometimes, you just need a little direction to get you going.
2007-01-05 04:20:25 UTC
No; it's not morally wrong. It's called desktop research!
2007-01-05 03:14:40 UTC
It does not appear wrong at first, it does appear to be the survey . it would be wrong should the information be used against another .that would be deceptive.
ragdefender
2007-01-05 02:53:18 UTC
If you only answer what people write here in Y!A, be preapred for an F.
small
2007-01-05 03:22:22 UTC
Yes, indeed...... it is not only morally wrong, it is also deceiving oneself because it certainly corrupts the due learning process.
2007-01-05 02:50:02 UTC
If you really researched first, then you could'nt find anything, then its okay..



If you just post the question out of lazyness, then that's just.....
2007-01-05 02:49:08 UTC
~For you, obviously not - elst you would not have posted the inquiry.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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