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Scientific thought and the boundary of insanity and criminal responsibility

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Roger Smith
Roger Smith*
Affiliation:
Department of History, University of Lancaster
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Roger Smith, Department of History, University of Lancaster, Bailrigg, Lancaster LAI 4YG.
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Synopsis

The insanity defence is considered in terms of the operation of incommensurable scientific and legal discourses, a dualism which in turn is held to reflect individualist values. This analysis is used to explain both the recurring nature of medico-legal controversy and the historical results of the defence in Victorian England.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , February 1980 , pp. 15 - 23
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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