Section I. Psychic Abnormalities which Arise from Defective Evolution of the Psychic Faculties

Three of these can be distinguished according to the degree of defectiveness and slowness. They are:

I. Idiocy, which is the state in which the evolution of the sensitive cognitive powers is so defective and slow that no evolution at all of the intellect is had.

II. Imbecility, in which there is a lesser defectiveness and slowness, so that a certain degree of intellectual evolution can be acquired; however, its defectiveness and slowness remain notable in forming notions and judgments.

III. Debility, in which the defectiveness of intellectual evolution is not so notable; nevertheless, the weak are unable to make practical use of the things which they perceive by intellect. Therefore they are easily placed under the rule of another, and they always need someone who may direct their acts.

Corollary. The moral responsibility of these persons depends both on the degree to which they can perceive things by intellect and judge concerning them, and on the possibility of putting their judgments into practice.