Quote:
Originally Posted by LesMts
Yes, but as I was pointing it out earlier there are neurological and physiological reasons why people can have poor or non-existant impulse control.
Extreme example but if this guy breaking into a granny's flat and raping her is an example of "evil", would you change your mind if you found out he'd had a brain tumour at the time? Or had recently suffered brain damage (however slight) in some kind of accident?
These are stark examples but even individual differences (i.e. not pathological) in neuroanatomy and neurochemistry are responsible for quite large differences in behaviour. I linked to an article earlier about how the brain can be chemically and physically re-wired depending on environment and how inescapable stress during development (such as a child in an abusive home might experience) can cause very real, very biological problems with aggression, decision making and impulse control.
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It is a rather extreme example you have used, as the majority of convicted rapists did not have a brain tumour at the time of the offence, nor does being abused as a child give someone free reign to abuse others as an adult.
It is still an evil act imo, and the majority of offenders who talk about themselves, will admit they knew it wasn't right or good when they did it.
(I know someone who used to councel sex offenders.)