> The same physical action can lead to vastly different outcomes.

Well, yeah, that’s kind of obvious once you realize that tools can be used for multiple purposes. A hammer can be used to pound both nails (legal) and smash a person’s head in (not).

But the notion that “thought crimes” where people are being punished merely for their feelings and where no act in furtherance of the outcome has taken place is just baloney. At least in the West.