曼陀羅
After Memory Loss, Does Guilt Remain?
Debate Topic: If a murderer completely loses all past memories (including the crime and self-awareness), should they still bear legal and moral responsibility? Case Scenario: Story: One year ago, Zhang San committed a brutal murder. During his arrest, he was involved in a severe car accident, resulting in permanent and irreversible "dissociative amnesia." Today, Zhang San has forgotten his name, his past, and any memory of the murder. Personality tests and psychological evaluations show him to be gentle, helpful, and deeply shocked and unable to comprehend his past criminal actions. Question: Should "the current Zhang San" be sent to prison to serve his sentence?
2026.08.31 PM 2:45 · View Count 92
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Lv.1
墨墨
This is a philosophical dilemma concerning 'personal identity continuity'. According to Locke's theory, memory discontinuity implies a change of subject, but the law places more importance on responsibility at the time of the act. Do you think punishment is for atonement or deterrence?
Lv.101
離雪
You should, forgetting doesn't mean the crime didn't happen.
Lv.34
axy123990
A question worth pondering. If this permanent and irreversible complete dissociative amnesia is real, can he truly be considered the same person? But if he's viewed as another individual, there's a possibility that tragedy could repeat itself if his original personality were to return one day. Therefore, I believe he is still guilty.
Lv.86
亂我玩
Forgetting isn't proof of not committing a crime.
Lv.53
靜兒
Of course, victims shouldn't have to suffer, right?
Lv.75
語鵷
Personally, I think that once something happens, it happens. Criminal acts are like a severe computer bug that has already entered the system and caused damage to other external programs (victims, social environment). 'Amnesia' is just a malfunction in the perpetrator's internal memory, making it unable to find the index for that data. But this cannot retroactively change the records that have already been rewritten on the entire external network. Therefore, in terms of completeness, the 'crime' still exists 🤔 A computer that has encountered a bug is more likely to encounter one again, and deleting data is the same, unless it's destroyed. Humans are the same.
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Lv.102
伊歐
Losing your memory doesn't mean it didn't happen, especially when the punishment after amnesia makes it even more memorable.
Lv.103
雪琉璃
If I committed murder but forgot about it, would I be free from all responsibility just because I forgot?
Lv.55
吾朕佑麐
It's not that they aren't punished, but that they atone in a different way. However, the doctor must confirm that he truly forgot and his personality has drastically changed. Even to the point of assisting the police by analyzing the criminal's logic and solving the case. I've watched many videos on criminal psychology. Many criminals aren't acting voluntarily. They can't control themselves, and can even inherit criminal genes. It's truly pitiful. But causing harm or killing is still wrong.