Vinornost

Vinornost is a term found in several Slavic languages that denotes guilt or culpability. It refers to the state or quality of being morally or legally at fault for a wrongdoing. In legal contexts, vinornost is used to describe the presence of fault that can support a finding of liability or punishment; in ethical discussions, it can express moral accountability for one’s actions. The scope often encompasses both individual guilt and, in some theories, collective or shared responsibility.

Etymology and cognates form a family across Slavic languages. The root vin- is linked to concepts of fault or offense in languages such as Russian (vinovnost’), Ukrainian (vinovnist’), Polish (winość), Czech (vina), and Slovene (vinovnost). Despite variation in spelling and pronunciation, the core idea centers on being at fault rather than being innocent.

Usage and nuance differ by legal and philosophical tradition. In criminal law, vinornost suggests the presence of culpable mental state and conduct that justify sanction. In civil or administrative law, it may relate to liability for damages. In ethics, it grounds discussions of moral responsibility, taking into account factors such as intention, knowledge, and circumstances. Vinornost is often contrasted with nevinnost (innocence) and with odpovědnost (responsibility or accountability), the latter sometimes emphasizing obligation rather than blame.

See also: vina (guilt), nevinnost (innocence), vinný/vinný (guilty), odpovědnost (responsibility), vinovnost.