Register for E-mail alerts. Comment on articles. Sign up today, it's easy.
Close
The Washington Times Online Edition

Letters to the Editor

Passing judgment

In his otherwise excellent Commentary column on excusing criminal behavior, Stanton E. Samenow commits a category error that undermines the rest of what he wrote (“Psyching out crime excuses,” Aug. 26). After defending the idea that people control their own choices in life, Mr. Samenow inexplicably concedes, “Until science tells us more, we have no satisfactory explanation for evil.”

Science will never be able to explain evil because “evil” is a value judgment, not a scientific judgment. Like good, evil refers to behavior, ethics and choice, not to biology, chemistry and physics. The good and bad that people do are simply not measurable by science or subject to the laws of mechanics. That is why “social science,” including psychology and sociology, is an oxymoron. Behavior cannot be studied, explained or predicted like the movement of planets or molecules — no two persons are identical, and “mind” is not an organ subject to physical laws. Therefore, science cannot tell us more about good and evil.

JEFFREY A. SCHALER

School of public affairs

American University

Washington

SHELDON RICHMAN

Editor

The Freeman

Foundation for Economic Education

Irvington, N.Y.

Story Continues →

View Entire Story
Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus
You Might Also Like
  • ** FILE ** Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich speaks during a news conference on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

    Questions surface on Gingrich campaign travel payments

    By Luke Rosiak - The Washington Times

  • This artist rendering shows Amine El Khalifi before U.S. District Judge T. Rawles Jones Jr. in federal court in Alexandria, Va., Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. El Khalifi, a 29-year-old Moroccan man was arrested Friday near the U.S. Capitol as he was planning to detonate what he thought was a suicide vest, given to him by FBI undercover operatives, said police and government officials. (AP Photo/Dana Verkouteren)

    Terror suspect arrested near U.S. Capitol

    By Tom Howell Jr. - The Washington Times

  • Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Associated Press)

    Justice says Supreme Court should revisit campaign finance

    By Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times

  • Happening Now

          Independent voices from the TWT Communities

          Media Migraine

          First over-the-counter column approved for fast and effective relief from even your worst media-induced headache.

          Forbidden Table Talk

          Political satirist and Christian apologist Bob Siegel discusses religion and politics.