Quote:
Originally Posted by alecE
I'm not too sure about the great moral generalities, but let me pose a specific instance for further commentary.
I possess a penguin paperback (Roy Lewis, 'The Evolution Man') published 1963 for which I paid 2/6d (old money = 12.5p new money). It's a very great favourite of mine, but the paper is going brown and it will fall apart one day and I would dearly love an electronic version. I have a number of choices:
1. Find a legitimate e-copy - so far I've failed;
2. Buy a new paper copy (£6.99 at Amazon) scan it and proof it;
3. Scan and proof my existing copy;
4. Find a copy on the darknet (so far I haven't, but I've not looked very hard);
5. Go without.
What are the morality 'ratings' of the above, and the reasons for the 'ratings'?
I'm wondering if the consideration of specific cases might help to clarify the general morality?
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!. Find it, buy it, download it. No moral issues at all.
2.& 3. Basically the same to me. I personally see no moral issue as long as the the resulting e-copy is for my use alone; i.e. I don't then share it with people I know or people I don't know (darknet).
4. Morally questionable. In my opinion dead wrong if a legitimate e-copy is out there WHAT EVER THE PRICE. That a legitimate seller of any item wants more than you want to pay, or can afford to pay, does not justify getting a stolen item. If the e-copy is just not otherwise available, hmm?
5.That's always an alternative with no moral issue.