“不知法不免责”准则的历史考察

刑法中事实错误与法律错误分类的现代意义与罗马法无关。对“不知法不免责”准则的发展历史的考察表明,无论在大陆法的语境中,还是在普通法的语境中,现代的“不知法不免责”准则都建立在知法的推定的基础之上。知法的推定与近代以来国家权威的扩张与治理方式的理性化存在紧密联系。借助知法的推定,“不知法不免责”准则与责任主义在古典的刑法理论体系中得以自洽共存。在知法的推定动摇之后,为维护“不知法不免责”的传统立场,人们提出诸种新的理论根据,但这些根据无法使传统立场正当化。

Historical Review of the Doctrine of "Ignorance of Law is No Excuse"

Modern classification of mistake of law and that of fact in criminal law does not derive from Roman law.The historical development of a doctrine of "ignorance of law is no excuse"(ignorantia juris non excusat) indicates that,in the context of both German law and Common Law,it has been based on the presumption of legal knowledge.The presumption is a product of the growth of absolute state power,and associates itself closely with the new mode of governance.By means of the presumption,the doctrine could be consistent with the principle of responsibility in the classical theory of criminal law.After the collapse of the presumption,various justifications have been put forward so as to preserve the doctrine,but it fails.