This is a subtle and important question: one cannot of course state with absolute certainty what a state of mind was at the time a crime was committed.
However we may infer states of mind based on medical history, pharmacological interventions and present states of mind.
If there is resonable doubt that a crime was committed with a state of mind afflicted by illness which mitigates that crime, then it's ethical to show leniency.
Through psychological evaluations one may start to appreciate the subtleties of mind of the suspect in question.
But these questions are vast and deep philosophical ones. Questions that are not easily answered but neuroscientists using fMRI and other investigative technologies are unravelling the subtle answers to the even subtler questions - although as with any scientific endeavour more questions are left by the answers.
This is a subtle and important question: one cannot of course state with absolute certainty what a state of mind was at the time a crime was committed.
However we may infer states of mind based on medical history, pharmacological interventions and present states of mind.
If there is resonable doubt that a crime was committed with a state of mind afflicted by illness which mitigates that crime, then it's ethical to show leniency.
Through psychological evaluations one may start to appreciate the subtleties of mind of the suspect in question.
But these questions are vast and deep philosophical ones. Questions that are not easily answered but neuroscientists using fMRI and other investigative technologies are unravelling the subtle answers to the even subtler questions - although as with any scientific endeavour more questions are left by the answers.