(Un)originality of Scientific Papers

The papers submitted to this conference must have scientific value and need to present original ideas. Originality is indispensable to the processes of creation and innovation at all levels, starting with scientific research. This paper focuses on originality in the sphere of scientific works, primarily in papers like this one. It examines contemporary standards related to the level and the nature of originality in scientific journals in order to illustrate the complexity of the notion and the dilemmas stakeholders (authors, journal editors, peer reviewers and publishers) are faced with when standards are absent or unclear. It argues that in the concept of active citizenship, academic journals can be seen as facilitators of transformative ideas only when the stakeholders ensure a high quality of writing, especially by promoting the original thinking of authors and an individual approach. Research suggests that there is a general lack of contemporary debate on originality in scientific writing, with rare exceptions that focus on selected cases of wrongdoing – especially various forms of plagiarism. Essential questions about the nature and scope of the required originality in scientific papers remain unanswered. This imposes greater responsibility on the editors of scientific journals as well as article authors, as they have to individually develop standards related to originality. This paper emphasises the importance of paying greater attention to the dilemmas facing the stakeholders in scientific publishing related to evaluating the originality of scientific papers.