Comments and discussion

When you analyse the article “Bad or Mad?” by Sean Spence, you should consider those statements that are particularly interesting or controversial.

For example, the topic of evil could be worth further exploration. Spence mentions how evil has been historically discussed from a theological point of view, and gives Saint Augustine’s definition of evil as an example which illustrates how the Christian tradition viewed evil. It could, therefore, be interesting to take a look at how other major religions – such as Hinduism, Buddhism, or Islam – have defined evil. You could also look at how definitions of evil have influenced those societies in which these religions are most popular.

In his article, Sean Spence questions the existence of “moral evil”. He suggests that, if evil can be explained from a neurological perspective, it becomes “natural” and, therefore, beyond our control. This implies that society cannot hold criminals morally responsible for their actions. This is a very controversial idea, especially in the light of another of Spence’s ideas – that society needs to attribute moral responsibility to criminals in to justify punishment: “In ou...