Counsel #1 — Plagiarism

Picture: Counsel #1 — PlagiarismCCW 153.1

The most common accusation against Ellen White is that she was a plagiarist. But is this true? While it is true that Ellen White used language from other authors, it is not true that she hid this practice or copied content illegally. First, she sometimes endorsed the very books she had used and often only borrowed linguistic elements to suit her own beliefs rather than the beliefs of the original authors. Second, during Ellen White’s lifetime, literary borrowing was considered a legitimate practice. Copyright laws only gave authors a monopoly over new “thoughts, sentiments, knowledge or discoveries” for a relatively short period of time, after which they were considered public domain.^{[227]https://www.arl.org/copyright-timeline/} As uncomfortable as it feels today, Ellen White’s practice was well within the moral and legal expectations of the era.^{[228]https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/13959.874#874}CCW 153.2

“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.” Proverbs 12:22 NKJVCCW 153.3

“In some cases where a historian has so grouped together events as to afford, in brief, a comprehensive view of the subject, or has summarized details in a convenient manner, his words have been quoted; but except in a few instances no specific credit has been given, since they are not quoted for the purpose of citing that writer as authority, but because his statement affords a ready and forcible presentation of the subject.” Ellen White in The Great Controversy, p. xi.4CCW 153.4

Reflect: How do modern copyright regulations compare to those of Ellen White’s lifetime?CCW 153.5