13 Dec 2004
Are We Puppets or Free Agents?

Oh, boy! The insanity reaches new levels! My question about this has always been: why does it matter if the perpetrator is nuts? Did he do the crime or not? That's the only standard of guilt or innocence a rational civilization can have. Because, by definition, if you got around killing people for fun, you're crazy!

Once you get into the insanity plea, it's a very short step the "the devil made me do it" ... and where would that lead?

Interpretations of the insanity plea have changed through the ages, but advances in neuroscience promise to redefine free will and personal responsibility, and change the way we think about punishment. By Rowan Hooper.

(link) [Wired News]

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