Is it possible for thoughts to be evil or in some way criminal. For example, suppose I think about committing a crime. I plan it in my mind, and even fantasize about committing the crime. Is this wrong? Is intent to committ a crime wrong?

Comments

I think it is, morally wrong in any case, and for most crimes we do take into acount motive, so legally wrong also. On the other hand, unless we seriously consider undertaking a crime, how can we congratulate ourselves on avoiding the temptation to actually commit it? Aristotle raises this issue when he wonders whether it would be better to be a person who never feels temptation to be immoral, and so is moral, or whether it would be better to be a person who often is tempted to do wrong, and does right nonetheless. The former seems to be a bit bloodless and boring, the latter more exciting but in a sense rather corrupt, perhaps.

A footnote here. The intent behind the act counts. But fantasizing and planning purely in the brainpan doesn't count as criminal. The closest the law comes is conspiring to commit a crime. Nonetheless, conspiracy calls for more than idle thought or even idle talk of the "Boy, wouldn't it be something to ..." sort.

We do give moral credit for overcoming serious temptation. But deliberately indulging in wicked fantasies seems to be another matter. One reason is that we worry that people who do this regulalrly are more likely to succumb to the temptations that they induce in themselves. But another is that we value the character trait of being repulsed by the repulsive.

Read another response by Oliver Leaman, Allen Stairs

Read another response about Ethics, Mind