Understanding Incitamentum: The Latin Concept of Provocation and Instigation
Incitamentum is a Latin word that means "incitement" or "provocation". It is the dative plural form of the verb incidere, which means "to fall upon" or "to attack". In legal contexts, incitamentum is often used to describe the act of provoking or instigating someone to commit a crime or other wrongful act.
For example, if one person encourages another to commit a violent act, they may be charged with incitamentum. The concept of incitamentum is similar to that of accomplice liability, where one person is held responsible for the actions of another based on their involvement in the crime.
Incitamentum is not a commonly used term in modern legal practice, and it has largely been replaced by more specific terms such as "accomplice" or "accessory." However, it remains a useful concept to understand in the context of historical legal principles and legal philosophy.