I am voting "someone who commits a crime," but I think the options are not specific enough. The first option should be split into two:
- someone who commits an act that is malum in se
- someone who commits an act that is malum prohibitum
I say that because I don't think a crime has been committed just because government prohibits something (malum prohibitum). That something has to be wrong in itself (malum in se) for it to truly be a crime.
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Tim Buchheim Posted 14 Jul 2009 at 8:57pm #
One who commits a crime is a criminal.
One who is convicted of a crime is a convict.
at least that's what Leopard's built-in dictionary tells me. 🙂
Posted 14 Jul 2009 at 3:47pm #
I am voting "someone who commits a crime," but I think the options are not specific enough. The first option should be split into two:
- someone who commits an act that is malum in se
- someone who commits an act that is malum prohibitum
I say that because I don't think a crime has been committed just because government prohibits something (malum prohibitum). That something has to be wrong in itself (malum in se) for it to truly be a crime.
Posted 14 Jul 2009 at 8:57pm #
One who commits a crime is a criminal.
One who is convicted of a crime is a convict.
at least that's what Leopard's built-in dictionary tells me. 🙂
Posted 15 Jul 2009 at 1:36am #
[quote comment="54753"] ...That something has to be wrong in itself (malum in se) for it to truly be a crime.[/quote] I'm with Daniel.