Dear all,

In 2000 or 2001, I do not remember well, the title of an article in a 
French history of economics journal piqued my interest. I had been 
working on the topic addressed in the article for some time and I was 
eager therefore to read it. As it often happens, my expectations were 
somewhat disappointed. I had published an article in Economics and 
Philosophy in 1997 and the French article I was now reading included 
a verbatim translation of the introduction to my English article.

I remember writing to the journal and I think they even appointed two 
people to deal with the problem. Nothing came out of it. I also sent 
a copy of the two articles to 5 or 6 friends of mine, who all 
concluded that this was a case of plagiarism.

If I remember well, the author of the French article was later 
promoted to Full Professor. I did not know that writing on sympathy 
could have so significant externalities.

Best wishes,

Philippe Fontaine