Why cheating is wrong?

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Why It Is Wrong To Cheat
Debate on the place of cheating in academia is not a new phenomenon. Ideally, this practice is highly discouraged and is often seen as not only unethical but also immoral. Recent legislation has seen the establishment of a legal regime to curb this vice, usually under the blanket of intellectual property protection laws. The approach to academic pronouncements and handling them as intellectual property has played a significant role in the fight against cheating in academia. As a vice, scholars, and commentators have termed it wrong for various reasons.
Cheating in academia is in itself a form of theft. This is especially so because academic ideology is increasingly being seen as a form of property, capable of being exclusively owned by the author. Cheating which may take the form of plagiarism starkly contrasts with and undermines this principle. Under this approach, persons guilty of cheating in academia are as good offenders as any other persons who may break other civil law (Helgesson, 94). Indeed, courts had awarded authors monetary compensation in cases where they have been victims of cheating in this fashion
Academic Fraud is also wrong as it undermines the integrity of academia. It is imperative for all stakeholders to note that academia plays a pivotal role in the progress of society. An ancient civilization, such as the Egyptians, held academia in high regard because of its central purpose (Helgesson, 99). Seeing as academia is one of the main anchors of civilization, it is of the essence that its integrity is upheld, to the highest possible standards.

The introduction of cheating to such a field largely negates its integrity and consequentially its ability to shape a society.
Further, cheating in academia is frowned upon as it discourages innovation. The presence of already existing research and academic findings should only serve as a foundation for future educational advancement. Persons who may wish to recycle such material and often pass it off as their own are merely affirming the fact that cheating discourages innovation (Helgesson, 102). For there to be new entrants in the field of research and academia, there needs to be motivation for change.
In conclusion, cheating in academia is a detrimental vice, and this is so for various reasons, including those mentioned above. It is therefore crucial for the concerned stakeholders to try their level best and curb cheating. This is not only because it is immoral and unethical, but also because it undermines the integrity of academia and significantly hampers innovation.

Works Cited
Helgesson, Gert, and Stefan Eriksson. “Plagiarism in research.” Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 18.1 (2015): 91-101.