The Limits of Law

Author: Huang Dongli
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Courts can rule whether academic articles constitute defamation, but defamation is closely related to the truthfulness of academia. The fight against academic fraud is gaining momentum in China, and it is a matter more critical to the nation's future than counterfeit products. Academic fraud-fighting should encompass two aspects: one is combating plagiarism, and the other is combating pseudoscience. In the debate over the truthfulness of academia, it is inevitable to use some "pseudo" adjectives when referring to the so-called pseudoscience or pseudoscience. This is understandable. Therefore, it is essential to distinguish between normal academic truth debates and whether the "pseudo" mentioned in the articles primarily targets a theory, viewpoint, or school, or mainly a specific person. It should be clear. Mischaracterizing the essence of academic truth debates as defamation will severely dampen the current enthusiasm for combating academic fraud. This collection of essays agrees with and sympathizes with the losing side's views in the "Naxi Ancient Music" case. Courts can rule whether academic articles constitute defamation, but defamation is closely related to the truthfulness of academia. The fight against academic fraud is gaining momentum in China, and it is a matter more critical to the nation's future than counterfeit products. Academic fraud-fighting should encompass two aspects: one is combating plagiarism, and the other is combating pseudoscience. In the debate over the truthfulness of academia, it is inevitable to use some "pseudo" adjectives when referring to the so-called pseudoscience or pseudoscience. This is understandable. Therefore, it is essential to distinguish between normal academic truth debates and whether the "pseudo" mentioned in the articles primarily targets a theory, viewpoint, or school, or mainly a specific person. It should be clear. Mischaracterizing the essence of academic truth debates as defamation will severely dampen the current enthusiasm for combating academic fraud. This collection of essays agrees with and sympathizes with the losing side's views in the "Naxi Ancient Music" case.