Photocopy a book inmoral?

[rafa]

Hi!
Im a student at College, I live in Uruguay, by now I need a book for a course which is impossible to find in Uruguay or Argentina, I can get it at Amazon for 161 dollars plus shipping (which is really expensive for me). Theres one original copy of this book at my universities library (I cant take it home because theres only one), Uruguayan laws allow to photocopy 20% of any book, is it immoral if I go 5 times to the copy shop?
Thanks a lot
Blessings
Rafa

 

[Joe_5859]

Being from the U.S., I am sure my perspective is different (so maybe these are stupid questions on my part ), but what are the other kids in your class doing? Does your college have a bookstore? Can you talk to the professor about it?

In the U.S., when in an educational setting, that sometimes changes what would normally be allowed with regards to copying things. I have no idea what the laws are like in Uruguay.

 

[rafa]

I think that moral and ethical principles are independent of legislation. The other Kids in my class just got it from internet, its sad but the proffessor thinks its fine to download the book from internet, as well as software for the course like Matlab.

 

[EasterJoy]

I think that moral and ethical principles are independent of legislation. The other Kids in my class just got it from internet, its sad but the proffessor thinks its fine to download the book from internet, as well as software for the course like Matlab.

Meaning, moral law is binding even when an activity isn’t illegal.

 

[rafa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rafa View Post
I think that moral and ethical principles are independent of legislation. The other Kids in my class just got it from internet, its sad but the proffessor thinks its fine to download the book from internet, as well as software for the course like Matlab.

Meaning, moral law is binding even when an activity isn’t illegal.

I agree with that. So what would you do in my case?

I must admit I feel a bit hypocritical, I dont know if this is the adjective I should use, what happens is that I worry about venial sins too much (like photocopy a book for college without permission) and I dont pay attention to my behavior at home (for example I insult my brother or criticize my mother) as well as other aspects of my life as a Christian which I think are more important. Hypocritical as I looked it up is someone who pretends to be a better person than what he/she is, I dont think that is my case. Anyway not doing whats most important but what is less doesnt mean I can or should stop doing the little things I do.

 

[Joe_5859]

In the case of copyright issues, I think that – in most cases that I can think of – it is immoral because it is illegal. If it is not illegal, I fail to see how it would be immoral. If the laws in your country allow an out-of-print work to be copied for educational purposes, then it would not be immoral to do that. It would be immoral to make copies and start selling them on eBay.

But, again, I have no idea what the laws are in your country. I know that laws here in the U.S. are more lenient in allowing things to be used for educational purposes.