~"To what extent is any given man morally responsible for any given act? We do not know." - Alexis Carrel. This essay explains how we've handled our opinion as a society.

Essay by latin_hottieHigh School, 10th gradeA+, January 2003

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"To what extent is any given man morally responsible for any given act? We do not know." - Alexis Carrel (1873-1944). Every person has a dissimilar conjecture concerned with the method of judging others. In some specific cases, an individual should not be held responsible for his/her actions: When someone is not in charge to take decisions, when they are not capable to measure the consequences of their actions or when his/her actions can be manipulated by something or someone else.

In numerous countries, laws exclude children women and seniors from being incriminated of some misconducts or crimes. Canada as an example, protects infants, females and elder people. However, this doesn't mean that the Government won't castigate them. Depending on the wrong that was made, the accused will acquire a punishment, but not as severe. A minor, under 18, (depending on the laws of the country) are unaware of the change their decisions could make in their future; decisions not necessarily advantageous but inconvenient.

Women and seniors are sometimes ignored or unconsidered because of their debilities. Elders have more facility to contract illnesses or attacks to their lives.

Whenever someone is in a condition where he/she can't take directions, is not able to control his/her memory, they have a mental disability. If someone is diagnosed with insanity, it's understood that he/she can't make decisions on his/her own, because he/she doesn't accept nor admit the law of life. An action has its consequence. In other words, he/she doesn't have the ability to judge or analyse the reactions of the world towards what they do. That is the reason why in countless cases at court, after the lawyer recognizes that he will not be able to prove his client is insane, so that the punishment would be less rigid.

A person should...