Overview

How does the law regard and define mental incompetence, when faced with the problem of meting out justice? To what extent has the law relied on extra-legal authorities - be they religious or scientific - to frame its own categories of mental incompetence and madness? ""Wild Beasts and Idle Humours"" takes us on a journey through the changing historical landscape of human nature and offers an unprecedented look at the legal conceptions of insanity from the pre-classical Greek world to the present. Although actual trial records are either totally lacking or incomplete until the 18th century, there are other sources from which the insanity defenses can be constructed. In this book Daniel Robinson, an historian of psychology, pores over centuries of written law, statements by legal commentators, summaries of crimes, and punishments, to glean from these sources an understanding of epochal views of responsibility and competence. From the Greek phrenesis to the Roman notions of ""furiosus"" and ""non compus mentis"", from the 17th-century witch trials to today's interpretation of ""mens rea"", Robinson take us through history and provides the story of how the insanity defence has been construed as a meeting point of the law and those professions that chart human behaviour and conduct: namely religion, medicine and psychology. The result is an historical account of ""insanity"" within western civilization. ""Wild Beasts and Idle Humours"" should be for anyone interested in the evolution of thinking not merely about legal insanity but about such core concepts as responsibility, fitness for the rule of law, competence to enter into contracts and convenants, the role of punishments, and the place of experts within the overall juridical context.

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9780674952898

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Reviews

[A] wonderful book...This work ultimately stands as a treatise on Western law's ongoing struggle to contend with a hodge-podge of mental illnesses, unfortunate coincidences, and other unexplained phenomena, dealt with until recently under the rubric of 'magic.' It would be a shame for psychologists, psychiatrists, and legal scholars to miss out on this book...No comprehensive collection of works in this area would be complete without a copy of Wild Beasts and Idle Humours . -- Eric Drogin The Federal Lawyer An American psychologist, Daniel N. Robinson, traces the development of the insanity plea...[He offers] an assured historical survey. -- Roy Porter The Times [UK] Daniel N. Robinson has written a graceful history of insanity and the law stretching from Homer to Hinckley. He attempts no final theory as to how the law should cope with the insane; he seeks, rather, to use the shifting notions of when madness exculpates criminal activity to illuminate the core self-perceptions of the cultures developing ever-evolving resolutions of the problem...[T]he grandeur of the theme--starting with Agamemnon's crazed humiliation of Achilles and ending yesterday--commands attention and respect. -- Neal Johnston The Nation Professor Robinson's interesting and scholarly book is the first to deal with the history of legal insanity from Ancient Greece and Rome to modern times...Most of the book, dealing with a topic so little known, is fascinating. -- Radmila May Contemporary Review [UK] This book is a unique study. It is of great value because of the diversity, richness, and depth of intelligence which is brought to bear on its subject. The author is extremely well-read. He makes deft use of the history of ideas, theology, religious history, medicine and its history, political theory, jurisprudence, literary history, and the rules of evidence as they pertain to expert testimony. He is familiar with the resources of these many disciplines and demonstrates a remarkable ability to have them 'play' together, the way a philharmonic conductor leads the different sections of an orchestra. This is an intellectual symphony of a book. -- Dennis Owens Appellate Practice Journal and Update [This] work is a welcome addition to the literature and a valuable book for readers with an interest in either law or psychology. An intellectual history of the interplay of psychology and law within the narrow context of insanity as a legal defense in criminal or civil actions, this book carefully examines the views of human nature prevalent in classical Greece and Rome, the early and later Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, and the era of modern science. It then traces the influences of these ideas on the development of the concepts and structures of the law...Both lawyer and lay reader can read this book with benefit. disciplines and demonstrates a remarkable ability to have them 'play' together, the way a philharmonic conductor leads the different sections of an orchestra. This is an intellectual symphony of a book. humiliation of Achilles and ending yesterday--commands attention and respect. modern science. It then traces the influences of these ideas on the development of the concepts and structures of the law...Both lawyer and lay reader can read this book with benefit. YA wonderful book...This work ultimately stands as a treatise on Western law's ongoing struggle to contend with a hodge-podge of mental illnesses, unfortunate coincidences, and other unexplained phenomena, dealt with until recently under the rubric of 'magic.' It would be a shame for psychologists, psychiatrists, and legal scholars to miss out on this book...No comprehensive collection of works in this area would be complete without a copy of Wild Beasts and Idle Humours. -- Eric Drogin The Federal Lawyer YThis work is a welcome addition to the literature and a valuable book for readers with an interest in either law or psychology. An intellectual history of the interplay of psychology and law within the narrow context of insanity as a legal defense in criminal or civil actions, this book carefully examines the views of human nature prevalent in classical Greece and Rome, the early and later Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, and the era of modern science. It then traces the influences of these ideas on the development of the concepts and structures of the law...Both lawyer and lay reader can read this book with benefit. Anyone interested in the nature, meaning, and justification of an insanity defense will profit from Robinson's book, whether beginning an examination of that defense or seeking a deeper understanding of it...Highly recommended.

"[A] wonderful book...This work ultimately stands as a treatise on Western law's ongoing struggle to contend with a hodge-podge of mental illnesses, unfortunate coincidences, and other unexplained phenomena, dealt with until recently under the rubric of 'magic.' It would be a shame for psychologists, psychiatrists, and legal scholars to miss out on this book...No comprehensive collection of works in this area would be complete without a copy of ""Wild Beasts and Idle Humours"". -- Eric Drogin ""The Federal Lawyer"" An American psychologist, Daniel N. Robinson, traces the development of the insanity plea...[He offers] an assured historical survey. -- Roy Porter ""The Times [UK]"" Daniel N. Robinson has written a graceful history of insanity and the law stretching from Homer to Hinckley. He attempts no final theory as to how the law should cope with the insane; he seeks, rather, to use the shifting notions of when madness exculpates criminal activity to illuminate the core self-perceptions of the cultures developing ever-evolving resolutions of the problem...[T]he grandeur of the theme--starting with Agamemnon's crazed humiliation of Achilles and ending yesterday--commands attention and respect. -- Neal Johnston ""The Nation"" Professor Robinson's interesting and scholarly book is the first to deal with the history of legal insanity from Ancient Greece and Rome to modern times...Most of the book, dealing with a topic so little known, is fascinating. -- Radmila May ""Contemporary Review [UK]"" This book is a unique study. It is of great value because of the diversity, richness, and depth of intelligence which is brought to bear on its subject. The author is extremely well-read. He makes deft use of the history of ideas, theology, religious history, medicine and its history, political theory, jurisprudence, literary history, and the rules of evidence as they pertain to expert testimony. He is familiar with the resources of these many disciplines and demonstrates a remarkable ability to have them 'play' together, the way a philharmonic conductor leads the different sections of an orchestra. This is an intellectual symphony of a book. -- Dennis Owens ""Appellate Practice Journal and Update"" [This] work is a welcome addition to the literature and a valuable book for readers with an interest in either law or psychology. An intellectual history of the interplay of psychology and law within the narrow context of insanity as a legal defense in criminal or civil actions, this book carefully examines the views of human nature prevalent in classical Greece and Rome, the early and later Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, and the era of modern science. It then traces the influences of these ideas on the development of the concepts and structures of the law...Both lawyer and lay reader can read this book with benefit. disciplines and demonstrates a remarkable ability to have them 'play' together, the way a philharmonic conductor leads the different sections of an orchestra. This is an intellectual symphony of a book. humiliation of Achilles and ending yesterday--commands attention and respect. modern science. It then traces the influences of these ideas on the development of the concepts and structures of the law...Both lawyer and lay reader can read this book with benefit. �A� wonderful book...This work ultimately stands as a treatise on Western law's ongoing struggle to contend with a hodge-podge of mental illnesses, unfortunate coincidences, and other unexplained phenomena, dealt with until recently under the rubric of 'magic.' It would be a shame for psychologists, psychiatrists, and legal scholars to miss out on this book...No comprehensive collection of works in this area would be complete without a copy of ""Wild Beasts and Idle Humours."" -- Eric Drogin ""The Federal Lawyer"" �This� work is a welcome addition to the literature and a valuable book for readers with an interest in either law or psychology. An intellectual history of the interplay of psychology and law within the narrow context of insanity as a legal defense in criminal or civil actions, this book carefully examines the views of human nature prevalent in classical Greece and Rome, the early and later Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, and the era of modern science. It then traces the influences of these ideas on the development of the concepts and structures of the law...Both lawyer and lay reader can read this book with benefit. Anyone interested in the nature, meaning, and justification of an insanity defense will profit from Robinson's book, whether beginning an examination of that defense or seeking a deeper understanding of it...Highly recommended."

Anyone interested in the nature, meaning, and justification of an insanity defense will profit from Robinson's book, whether beginning an examination of that defense or seeking a deeper understanding of it...Highly recommended. �A� wonderful book...This work ultimately stands as a treatise on Western law's ongoing struggle to contend with a hodge-podge of mental illnesses, unfortunate coincidences, and other unexplained phenomena, dealt with until recently under the rubric of 'magic.' It would be a shame for psychologists, psychiatrists, and legal scholars to miss out on this book...No comprehensive collection of works in this area would be complete without a copy of Wild Beasts and Idle Humours. -- Eric Drogin The Federal Lawyer �This� work is a welcome addition to the literature and a valuable book for readers with an interest in either law or psychology. An intellectual history of the interplay of psychology and law within the narrow context of insanity as a legal defense in criminal or civil actions, this book carefully examines the views of human nature prevalent in classical Greece and Rome, the early and later Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, and the era of modern science. It then traces the influences of these ideas on the development of the concepts and structures of the law...Both lawyer and lay reader can read this book with benefit. humiliation of Achilles and ending yesterday--commands attention and respect. modern science. It then traces the influences of these ideas on the development of the concepts and structures of the law...Both lawyer and lay reader can read this book with benefit. disciplines and demonstrates a remarkable ability to have them 'play' together, the way a philharmonic conductor leads the different sections of an orchestra. This is an intellectual symphony of a book. [This] work is a welcome addition to the literature and a valuable book for readers with an interest in either law or psychology. An intellectual history of the interplay of psychology and law within the narrow context of insanity as a legal defense in criminal or civil actions, this book carefully examines the views of human nature prevalent in classical Greece and Rome, the early and later Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, and the era of modern science. It then traces the influences of these ideas on the development of the concepts and structures of the law...Both lawyer and lay reader can read this book with benefit. An American psychologist, Daniel N. Robinson, traces the development of the insanity plea...[He offers] an assured historical survey. -- Roy Porter The Times [UK] Professor Robinson's interesting and scholarly book is the first to deal with the history of legal insanity from Ancient Greece and Rome to modern times...Most of the book, dealing with a topic so little known, is fascinating. -- Radmila May Contemporary Review [UK] Daniel N. Robinson has written a graceful history of insanity and the law stretching from Homer to Hinckley. He attempts no final theory as to how the law should cope with the insane; he seeks, rather, to use the shifting notions of when madness exculpates criminal activity to illuminate the core self-perceptions of the cultures developing ever-evolving resolutions of the problem...[T]he grandeur of the theme--starting with Agamemnon's crazed humiliation of Achilles and ending yesterday--commands attention and respect. -- Neal Johnston The Nation This book is a unique study. It is of great value because of the diversity, richness, and depth of intelligence which is brought to bear on its subject. The author is extremely well-read. He makes deft use of the history of ideas, theology, religious history, medicine and its history, political theory, jurisprudence, literary history, and the rules of evidence as they pertain to expert testimony. He is familiar with the resources of these many disciplines and demonstrates a remarkable ability to have them 'play' together, the way a philharmonic conductor leads the different sections of an orchestra. This is an intellectual symphony of a book. -- Dennis Owens Appellate Practice Journal and Update [A] wonderful book...This work ultimately stands as a treatise on Western law's ongoing struggle to contend with a hodge-podge of mental illnesses, unfortunate coincidences, and other unexplained phenomena, dealt with until recently under the rubric of 'magic.' It would be a shame for psychologists, psychiatrists, and legal scholars to miss out on this book...No comprehensive collection of works in this area would be complete without a copy of Wild Beasts and Idle Humours . -- Eric Drogin The Federal Lawyer

[A] wonderful book...This work ultimately stands as a treatise on Western law's ongoing struggle to contend with a hodge-podge of mental illnesses, unfortunate coincidences, and other unexplained phenomena, dealt with until recently under the rubric of 'magic.' It would be a shame for psychologists, psychiatrists, and legal scholars to miss out on this book...No comprehensive collection of works in this area would be complete without a copy of ""Wild Beasts and Idle Humours"". -- Eric Drogin ""The Federal Lawyer"" An American psychologist, Daniel N. Robinson, traces the development of the insanity plea...[He offers] an assured historical survey. -- Roy Porter ""The Times [UK]"" Daniel N. Robinson has written a graceful history of insanity and the law stretching from Homer to Hinckley. He attempts no final theory as to how the law should cope with the insane; he seeks, rather, to use the shifting notions of when madness exculpates criminal activity to illuminate the core self-perceptions of the cultures developing ever-evolving resolutions of the problem...[T]he grandeur of the theme--starting with Agamemnon's crazed humiliation of Achilles and ending yesterday--commands attention and respect. -- Neal Johnston ""The Nation"" Professor Robinson's interesting and scholarly book is the first to deal with the history of legal insanity from Ancient Greece and Rome to modern times...Most of the book, dealing with a topic so little known, is fascinating. -- Radmila May ""Contemporary Review [UK]"" This book is a unique study. It is of great value because of the diversity, richness, and depth of intelligence which is brought to bear on its subject. The author is extremely well-read. He makes deft use of the history of ideas, theology, religious history, medicine and its history, political theory, jurisprudence, literary history, and the rules of evidence as they pertain to expert testimony. He is familiar with the resources of these many disciplines and demonstrates a remarkable ability to have them 'play' together, the way a philharmonic conductor leads the different sections of an orchestra. This is an intellectual symphony of a book. -- Dennis Owens ""Appellate Practice Journal and Update"" [This] work is a welcome addition to the literature and a valuable book for readers with an interest in either law or psychology. An intellectual history of the interplay of psychology and law within the narrow context of insanity as a legal defense in criminal or civil actions, this book carefully examines the views of human nature prevalent in classical Greece and Rome, the early and later Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, and the era of modern science. It then traces the influences of these ideas on the development of the concepts and structures of the law...Both lawyer and lay reader can read this book with benefit. disciplines and demonstrates a remarkable ability to have them 'play' together, the way a philharmonic conductor leads the different sections of an orchestra. This is an intellectual symphony of a book. humiliation of Achilles and ending yesterday--commands attention and respect. modern science. It then traces the influences of these ideas on the development of the concepts and structures of the law...Both lawyer and lay reader can read this book with benefit. ÝA¨ wonderful book...This work ultimately stands as a treatise on Western law's ongoing struggle to contend with a hodge-podge of mental illnesses, unfortunate coincidences, and other unexplained phenomena, dealt with until recently under the rubric of 'magic.' It would be a shame for psychologists, psychiatrists, and legal scholars to miss out on this book...No comprehensive collection of works in this area would be complete without a copy of ""Wild Beasts and Idle Humours."" -- Eric Drogin ""The Federal Lawyer"" ÝThis¨ work is a welcome addition to the literature and a valuable book for readers with an interest in either law or psychology. An intellectual history of the interplay of psychology and law within the narrow context of insanity as a legal defense in criminal or civil actions, this book carefully examines the views of human nature prevalent in classical Greece and Rome, the early and later Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, and the era of modern science. It then traces the influences of these ideas on the development of the concepts and structures of the law...Both lawyer and lay reader can read this book with benefit. Anyone interested in the nature, meaning, and justification of an insanity defense will profit from Robinson's book, whether beginning an examination of that defense or seeking a deeper understanding of it...Highly recommended.

[A] wonderful book...This work ultimately stands as a treatise on Western law's ongoing struggle to contend with a hodge-podge of mental illnesses, unfortunate coincidences, and other unexplained phenomena, dealt with until recently under the rubric of 'magic.' It would be a shame for psychologists, psychiatrists, and legal scholars to miss out on this book...No comprehensive collection of works in this area would be complete without a copy of Wild Beasts and Idle Humours . -- Eric Drogin The Federal Lawyer

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