Fnord's Signature wrote:
Since there is no singular, absolute definition of human nature,
nor any ultimate evaluation of human nature beyond that which we project onto others,
individuals should be judged or defined only by their actions and choices,
and not by what we only imagine their intentions and motivations to be.
I some what disagree with this,
Individuals should be judged by their actions
and their intentions and they largely are already within our legal system. For example, we have first degree, second degree and third degree homicide all based on intention. Did you premeditate murder? Was it a crime of passion? Was it an accident? Many legal defenses don't deny that an action transpired from an Individual but what the intention was. Duress is one example but there are many I could think of. We should not look at just the actions and the choices of an Individual alone, we must consider intentions.
Motive absolutely matters,