Higher Brain Function

Not that we needed another reason to question whether it's all that it's cracked up to be but ...

People should be able to have healthy limbs removed by choice, say two Australian philosophers who are exploring the phenomenon of "amputee wannabes".

Amputee wannabes become obsessed with cutting off a particular part of their body, even though it may be healthy.

Past research has suggested this rare condition may be because they believe their body part is diseased or ugly, because the notion of becoming an amputee sexually excites them, or because of a mismatch between their body and their image of it.

I'm not sure who's nuttier the 'wannabees' or the 'philosophers'. When's the last time you saw another mammal get their rocks off by amputating a limb? Higher primate? Just one more thing that makes it amazing that, as a species, we survive.