Author Topic: MR people and the use of reason (Read 1176 times)

spouse of Jesus · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2010, 02:35:47 PM »

Even a baby can make generalizations. Although he cannot speak, he can show that he understands generalities. this pacifier, that pacifier are all pacifiers though they differ in shape and color. A one year old can refer to birds as "too too" or another word depending on his langage. He can distiguish birds from other kinds of animal even though ravens and ducks are so different. Such a child won't refer to a fly as a "too too".

Belloc · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2010, 02:56:48 PM »

in your post, you make a good point....though someone could be 21, they may have the mindset of a 2 yr old, etc...I knew a family next to a cousin of mine...one son was "normal", the other was MR and had some understanding of right/wrong, but could not put impulses and actions together...he caould not make a logical and informed thought of "hey, thats wrong, therfore I should not do it", also, he did not understands consequence vs actions,etc...

for instance, in his early teens, he started to be hyper=sɛҳuąƖ and could not amke informed decisions about touching people...sadly, he at times would publicly mastrubate, yet when caughter, could not put it together that it was wrong, should not be done in public,t all anywehre and that there were consequences-socially and morally....

he is in late 30's or so, stil llives with parents...they have to keep eye on him as a neighbor where they now live as a daughter that is MR and same age, they have to watch he does not act inappropriately with her....again, not talking normal urges and choosing to act on them, but he has a body of a man, mind of someone likely around age 5 or less...

should sex happen, likely would not be sinful or carry the weight that thos of us adult "normal" people would incur..

again, need a good confessor to assist and counsel

Jamie · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2010, 02:49:11 PM »

Quote from: Matthew

Onset of reason is a gradual process.

Children aren't irrational animals up till the magic age of 7, when they wake up one morning with a rational nature.

It helps to understand what reason allows us to do -- to make abstractions (and hence, recognize patterns, categories, etc.), to use language, etc.

If a child understand the concept of "chair" -- and how this chair, those chairs, and that chair over there all participate in "chairness" even though they have different accidents (color, shape, texture, etc.) -- that's using one's reason.

I think children rapidly pass up "pets" about age 1 1/2 or so -- I noticed that, having kids of my own. Under a certain age, there is little difference between a pet cat, dog, or human. They all cuddle, are incredibly needy, can't communicate, and lack reason.

There are also stories about children in Purgatory (and even Hell) -- so you don't have to be an adult to have enough use of reason to commit sin. Of course, God judges based on one's heart, so we can't really judge how culpable a given person is.

Matthew

You make good points here, but there is one small error. In fact, children begin to abstract immediately upon their use of their senses. All knowledge is learned through this. The age of reason is when the person can combine two concepts to come to a third - when they are learning not through sense knowledge directly, but through reason.

CathInfo.com

Author Topic: MR people and the use of reason (Read 1176 times)

spouse of Jesus

MR people and the use of reason

Belloc

MR people and the use of reason

Jamie

MR people and the use of reason