Authenticity and Ethics in Ghostwriting

Abstract

Knapp and Hulbert explore the concept of authenticity in relation to ghostwritten communications, and discuss the potential for personal authenticity to be compromised by a practice often seen as inherently deceptive. They then explore the sometimes-ambiguous concept of authorship, examining why it is important to this study and how academic disciplines vary in ascribing it. Finally, the authors propose a framework for further ethical analysis that is used throughout the book, emphasizing the potential effects of ghostwriting, the ethical principles that may be at stake, and the ways in which the use of a ghostwriter may impact the named author of a communication.