Vorsatz und Schuld

Zusatztext

In the English legal system, subjective elements of the crime are traditionally summarized using the term mens rea . The German tradition of general principles of criminal law, however, differentiates between "intention" and "culpability". Whereas "intention" is understood as consisting of knowledge and will towards the actus reus , i.e. the external elements of a crime, "culpability" pertains to the knowledge of the unlawfulness of the act and the ability to behave accordingly. In comparing the English and the German criminal law systems, the author reveals a great deal of similarities in spite of the differences in terminology but also a surprisingly large divergence in the basic question of what behavior deserves to be punished.

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