The Brain On Trial By Neuroscientist David Eagleman Essay

It’s unnerving when someone with no criminal record commits a disturbingly violent crime but is it just as alarming if someone that has brain damage commits a crime? For most of us, myself included, we think criminals make a choice to break the law. In a challenging case piece, â€Å"The Brain on trial,† written by, Neuroscientist David Eagleman narrates several cases of mental illness criminals and the frightening events which took place August 1, 1966. Eagleman argues that human behavior cannot be separated from human biology and believes that criminals that suffer from a mental illness is the reason they commit an illegal act. Specifically, Eagleman argues that a â€Å"forward-thinking legal system† will respond to neuroscience’s increasing capacity to demonstrate the illusory nature of free will by developing â€Å"customized rehabilitation† for criminal behavior. Overall, Eagleman’s perspective and research, explains his thoughts and inf luences that cause individuals to perform certain acts, allow us to understand his proposal of a forward-thinking legal system and have rehabilitation for criminals with mental illnesses. This text originates in July 2011 from, The Atlantic Magazine and gives readers an inside feel of criminals with illness’s. The introduction right from the start begins with the 1966 criminal, Charles Whitman, a former Marine, walked through the doors of University of Texas with a protected himself in the bell tower. Whitman went on a rampage killing 13 innocent