From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!zeppo!wheps!ihnss!ihuxp!grg Newsgroups: net.misc Title: sanity, justice. Article-I.D.: ihuxp.167 Posted: Fri Jun 25 09:26:49 1982 Received: Mon Jun 28 04:46:32 1982 This short note discusses logic, not legality, and not the lack of correlation thereof. ------------------------------------------------------------------- The recent note on "pleaded insanity" raises a question of the relevancy of such a "defense". Sanity means: soundness of mind, soundness of judgement. To plead insanity means "I made a bad judgement". Isn't this already determined by the un-lawfullness of the act? The responsibility of an individual is to maintain sanity, and if not take the consequences of the efects of his activities. Anything else permits and condones errors, and the creation of conditions that create them. Many things deplete sanity; tiredness, diet, drugs, food, emotion, physiological damage, stress, ... Many common actions are insane. But when they exceede the legal limit of insanity I do not see this as a defense, merely a fact. Determinations of proper treatment for various causes of insanity is a different (although related) issue. Greg Guthrie Bell Labs Naperville, Ill (312)979-7303