Before epilepsy was understood to be a neurological condition, people believed it was caused by the moon, or by phlegm in the brain. They condemned seizures as evidence of witchcraft or demonic possession, and killed or castrated sufferers to prevent them from passing tainted blood to a new generation.

Before epilepsy was understood to be a neurological condition, people believed it was caused by the moon, or by phlegm in the brain. They condemned seizures as evidence of witchcraft or demonic possession, and killed or castrated sufferers to prevent them from passing tainted blood to a new generation.

  • Umbrias@beehaw.org
    6·
    1 year ago

    This is the standard philosophical question of how responsible for our actions we are if we’re just the result of boundary conditions of the universe.

    It’s not an uninteresting discussion, but it’s far from settled or even possible to settle.