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Mental States v. Outcomes

Why do people look to the mental states of person rather than the outcomes the person produces?  Part of this comes from religious superstition.  The Bible provides that: ?But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.?  Rom. 4:5.  Most of the motivation comes from the need for self-deception. Everyone wants to think of himself as a good person.  ?I?m a good person.?  ?I mean well.?  In our society, that lie works. Use the n-word but welcome blacks into your home.  You?re a racist.  Talk about how much you love black people, but go years without having a black guest into you?re home.  You?re not racist...continue to full post

Full post as published by Crime & Federalism on April 23, 2009 (boomark / email).