Overview

Drawing from case examples, this text examines the concept of an excuse, and explains why the law excuses certain actions and not others. It explains that in law, there exists two excuses derived from Aristotle: the excuses of ignorance and compulsion. This text however, proposes that there is actually a third excuse - the excuse of character change. In introducing this third excuse, the author raises a controversial possibility - the abolition of the insanity defence.

Full Product Details

9780415167000

Table of Contents

Reviews

... an important contribution to enlightened philosophical anthropology. - Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, Spring 2000 Rezneck covers an impressively broad array of topics in relatively few pages. His presentation is entertaining, relevant, and readable. He shows courage in taking on some of the most difficult issues in forensic psychiatry.. -American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, Volume 26, No. 3, 1998

... an important contribution to enlightened philosophical anthropology. <br>- Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, Spring 2000 <br> Rezneck covers an impressively broad array of topics in relatively few pages. His presentation is entertaining, relevant, and readable. He shows courage in taking on some of the most difficult issues in forensic psychiatry.. <br>-American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, Volume 26, No. 3, 1998 <br>

'Anyone wanting a comprehensive introduction to his difficult area need look no further.' - Times Higher Education Supplement 'Illuminating ... fascinating ... Reznek adopts what might be called a common-sense approach.' - Times Literary Supplement

Author Information

Lawrie Reznek is both a trained philosopher and psychiatrist. He teaches psychiatry at the University of Toronto. He is also the author of The Nature of Disease (Routledge, 1987), The Medicine Men (Collins, 1990), and The Philosophical Defence of Psychiatry (Routledge, 1991).

Tab Content 6

Countries Available