William Damon The Death Of Honesty Analysis

Academic Dishonesty Increases Death Toll The article “The Death of Honesty,” by developmental psychologist and professor at Stanford University, William Damon, addresses honesty and its disintegrating use by society. Damon’s purpose is to bring awareness that the decline in honesty has not only impacted society but has also affected the academic world. He walks through the advantages and disadvantages that being honest has on our society. He presents his article and arguments in a realistic manner then creates a fiery tone in regards to academics. He moves through all rhetoric strategies while creating passion in order to awaken the academic audience that the corruption that dishonesty plays on society and in academics is destructive to

His use of politics as a vocational hazard of being untruthful as “the very function of political speech is to hide, soften, or misrepresent difficult truths” (2) or the utilization of a serious event to touch one’s empathetic side “misinforming storm troopers about the whereabouts of a hidden family during the Nazi occupation” (1) allows the reader to feel ok about not being honest in certain circumstances. He increases empathy with the reader by showing them justified side to being dishonest in order to relate that is part of human nature. This type of understanding creates an objective tone and allows the reader to gain a level of trust with the information being

First he discusses that children and young adults are most influential, next incorporating the failure of conveying the importance and meaning behind academic missions of “academic integrity” to students. While the ethical dilemma prior to this point have been surrounding the untruthful behavior, it veers to another dishonest behavior, cheating. Damon uses a list of reasoning of why students should remain honest in school, and then adds in factual content to support his claim of cheating within academics. The outrage is furthered by facts contributing to teachers assisting with cheating in schools. “New York officials found 21 proven cases of teacher cheating….” (20) The moral issue in the lack of academic integrity has been witnessed first hand from Damon, “I have noticed a palpable lack of interest among teachers and staff in discussing the moral significance of cheating with students.”