CHAPTER X. Agents Under Intellectual Disability

AGENTS UNDER INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

An agent not responsible for anything which he could not be aware of, p. 249.--The irresponsibility of animals, pp. 249-251.--Resentment towards an animal which has caused some injury, p. 251.--At the lower stages of civilisation animals deliberately treated as responsible beings, ibid.--The custom of blood-revenge extended to the animal world, pp. 251-253.--Animals exposed to regular punishment, pp. 253-255. --The origin of the mediæval practice of punishing animals, p. 255 sq. --Explanation of the practice of retaliating upon animals, pp. 256-260. --At the earlier stages of civilisation even inanimate things treated as if they were responsible agents, pp. 260-262.--Explanation of this, pp. 262-264.--The total or partial irresponsibility of childhood and early youth, pp. 264-267.--According to early custom, children sometimes subject to the rule of retaliation, p. 267. --Parents responsible for the deeds of their children, p. 267 sq.--In Europe there has been a tendency to raise the age at which full legal responsibility commences, p. 268 sq.--The irresponsibility of idiots and madmen, p. 269 sq.--Idiots and insane persons objects of religious reverence, p. 270 sq.--Lunatics treated with great severity or punished for their deeds, pp. 271-274.--Explanation of this, p. 274 sq.--The ignorance of which lunatics have been victims in the hands of lawyers, pp. 275-277.--The total or partial irresponsibility of intoxicated persons, p. 277 sq.--Drunkenness recognised as a ground of extenuation, pp. 278-280.--Not recognised as a ground of extenuation, p. 280 sq.--Explanation of these facts, p. 281 sq.