Gary Watsons argument psychopaths Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Gary Watsons argument psychopaths - Essay ExampleIn an article titled mental disease and Prudential Deficits, Watson uses the story of Howard Dever. Dever had a young life of hustling and petty crimes in New York City out front being conscripted into the United States Army in the 1940s. While in the Army, Dever had 14 AWOLs and many incarcerations (Watson 308). He would posterior be shipped to England where he married an English woman. However, he would abandon his wife and their child and at unrivalled time was faced with 15 counts of indictment for forgery, burglary and impersonation in Massachusetts.He could he perceive at one time remarking after leaving Florida without telling his wife , except I forgot to tell my wife, she didnt know where I was, but she took me back when I came home (Watson 308). Another time he was heard remarking after being indicted for burglary, hell I didnt need the money, I would just get an brain and I would go out and do it. Maybe I hurt somebo dy doing it but I have had fun (Watson 308). Thus, it is from this story that Gary Watson (309) observes that this sort of thoughtless behavior by Dever causes so much grief, but the psychopath has a blank incomprehension of the moral responses which his inconsiderate and malicious behavior elicits. This is what makes a psychopath so chilling as opposed to people with other anti-social behaviors. The psychopathic profile is characterized by egocentricity and self-centeredness which makes them lack concern. Watsons argument is based on a thesis that there is the co-occurrence of moral and prudential deficits in psychpathy. As such, there is one striking aspect about psychopaths. They are as heedless of themselves as they are of others.Therefore, Watsons argument is that since psychopaths have a blank comprehension of the moral responses that their actions cleverness elicit on other people, they cannot be held morally responsible for their actions. The