Favourite word in the English language
A thread with a bit of a difference, certainly when compared to other more recent threads and which doesn't necessarily have any hidden thorns secreted within it.
What is your favourite word in the English language?
Mine is "Subjective", an adjective, meaning:
1. existing in the mind; belonging to the thinking subject rather than to the object of thought ( opposed to objective).
2. pertaining to or characteristic of an individual; personal; individual: a subjective evaluation.
3. placing excessive emphasis on one's own moods, attitudes, opinions, etc.; unduly egocentric.
4. Philosophy, relating to or of the nature of an object as it is known in the mind as distinct from a thing in itself.
5. relating to properties or specific conditions of the mind as distinguished from general or universal experience.
It has a significance for me as it's one of my favourite elements of the criminal law in Ireland from the moment I started my studies, as the mens rea of a large number of crimes is subjective and measured by the accused person's state of mind, as opposed to the objective "reasonable person test" which mainly operates in the law of England & Wales which compares the actions of the accused with the mind of the near-mythical reasonable person (who doesn't suffer from any flaws). In conclusion, any time a mens rea is subjective it means it's easier to defend or get off.
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Originally Posted by dr love
