Download This Essay A Defense of Stealing EBooks

A Defence of Stealing Ebooks

Introduction & Background

• Author: Andrew T. Forcehimes (Philosopher)

• Philosophers typically write technical, argumentative essays with specific titles.

• The beauty of written work and public libraries allows engagement with ideas from different eras and demographics without exclusion.

• Forcehimes states that he engages in stealing books online, framing it as a point of ethical discussion.

Core Arguments

• Questions for Ethical Consideration:

  • Can one support public libraries without also justifying the stealing of ebooks?

  • Can one argue against stealing ebooks without also implicating libraries?

• Claim: Both questions lead to the same answer: No.

Public Libraries

• Definition:

  • Institutions that purchase copyrighted books for public borrowing.

  • This process might seem odd if one reflects on the ownership of information.

• Fair Use Law:

  • Borrowers can photocopy entire books or articles.

  • Librarians engage in interlibrary loans to provide access to materials on demand, further enabling indefinite retention of copies.

Justifications for Libraries

• Moral Argument:

  • No one should be deprived of information due to arbitrary factors (race, class, age, etc.).

• Function in Society:

  • Access to public information promotes a well-informed citizenry, crucial for accountability in governance.

• Libraries reduce epistemic disparities among citizens, providing equitable knowledge access.

  • They eliminate barriers of money and time for the least privileged, fostering respect and equality among citizens.

Property Rights and Copyrights

• Conflict with Copyrights:

  • Libraries facilitate access to information, whereas copyright laws restrict it.

• Support for Copyrights:

  • Constitutional basis aims to incentivize authors economically, asserting that theft harms both the author and societal progress.

• Counterclaim by Forcehimes:

  • A supportive argument for libraries also supports the act of stealing ebooks, as the benefits of information access may outweigh copyright considerations.

Discussion on Intellectual Property

• Physical vs. Intellectual Property:

  • Physical Excludability: A person can exclude another from enjoying their physical goods.

  • Non-rivalrous Nature of Intellectual Property: Copying a book does not deprive the original author of their copy, which leads to the reconsideration of the morality of 'theft.'

• Assessment of Arguments Against Online Book Theft:

  • Economic Harm: Assumption that stolen books realistically correlate to lost sales needs reevaluation; many take books they cannot afford to buy.

  • Incentives for Authors: While royalties might incentivize some authors, many write for reasons beyond monetary gain.

Implications of Libraries vs. Online Theft

• Moral Inconsistency:

  • If online book theft is wrong, logically, using libraries could also be perceived as morally questionable under the same reasoning.

  • Libraries act similarly to individuals distributing copyrighted material by providing public access to provided works.

Conclusion

• Final Reflection:

  • The act of stealing books online may not necessarily be morally wrong; if it is, then operating or using libraries is equally questionable.

Author Background

• Andrew T. Forcehimes is a Ph.D. candidate in Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.