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The Free Will Show

Episode 63: Mens Rea with Craig Agule

Sep 18, 2023
Craig Agule, a philosophy professor, discusses the philosophical issues related to mens rea requirements in the law and the connection between mens rea and free will. They delve into different categories of criminal behavior, explore the relationship between mens rea and free will, and discuss the concerns and implications of a mens rea defense.
24:51

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Mens rea is the mental component of a crime, focusing on the purposeful intention behind the act.
  • Mens rea plays a crucial role in determining criminal liability and the severity of punishments.

Deep dives

Understanding the Distinction between Actus Reas and Mens Rea

The podcast discusses the distinction between actus reas and mens rea in the context of criminal law. Actus reas refers to the physical or external portion of a crime, while mens rea refers to the mental or internal component. Mens rea involves the purposeful intention or mental state behind the act, while actus reas focuses on the physical action itself. An example provided is the differentiation between the motion of a fist (actus reas) and the purposeful intention to punch (mens rea).

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