Quote by: Viktor Mayer-Schönberger

The very idea of penalizing based on propensities is nauseating. To accuse a person of some possible future behavior is to negate the very foundation of justice: that one must have done something before we can hold him accountable for it. After all, thinking bad things is not illegal, doing them is. It is a fundamental tenet of our society that individual responsibility is tied to individual choice of action. [...] Were perfect predictions possible, they would deny human volition, our ability to live our lives freely. Also, ironically, by depriving us of choice they would exculpate us from any responsibility.


Author Bio


  • NameViktor Mayer-Schönberger
  • DescriptionAustrian academic
  • Born1966
  • CountryAustria
  • ProfessionJurist