Philosophy 2080 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Actus Reus
17 Apr 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Crime consists of two parts: physical part: actus reus. Means a guilty act or an illegal act. Also seen as a morally wrong act: mental component mens reus. Desires to commit a crime: not punished for mens reus alone. If mens reus and actus reus are found together, a person can be convicted of committed a crime: if found guilty of crime, they are criminally liable and should be sentenced under criminal law. A throws cigarette, b throws petrol: b started fire because act was voluntary. A throw cigarette breeze comes up causing a forest fire: a is liable because the breeze was a natural circumstance. A knocks over b, b falls to ground and a tree falls and kills b: tree killed b, not a because it was an accident because both events happened at the same time. Removes a as a cause of death even though he had intention.
