Ethics

Moral Responsibility and the Psychopath

By Adam Kolber

From the third issue of Neuroethics:

Moral Responsibility and the Psychopath

Walter Glannon¹ 

Abstract: Psychopathy involves impaired capacity for prudential and moral reasoning due to impaired capacity for empathy, remorse, and sensitivity to fear-inducing stimuli. Brain abnormalities and genetic polymorphisms associated with these traits appear to justify the claim that psychopaths cannot be morally responsible for their behavior. Yet psychopaths are capable of instrumental reasoning in achieving their goals, which suggests that they have some capacity to respond to moral reasons against performing harmful acts and refrain from performing them. The cognitive and affective impairment of the psychopath justifies mitigated responsibility, but not excuse.  

Full post as published by Neuroethics and Law on December 09, 2008 (boomark / email).