CRCJ 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Cesare Beccaria, Demon, Scientific Revolution
26 Oct 2018
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Document Summary
Chapter 8 and 9: early theories of criminology & psychological theories. Theories of crime inspired by religious beliefs and superstition: evil spirits and magic, people ascribed various unusual phenomena of nature to the activities of evil spirits. Judeo-christian teachings 2 explanations of sinful behavior: temptation, possession. Temptation: human beings can choose their behavior, morally weak succumb to the temptation of the devil or spirit. Possession: possession by devil or evil spirits, trial by battle, ordeal, fire or water, few survived. The enlightenment: scientific revolution caused a change in thinking, criticism of barbarism taking place, naturalistic explanation based on reason and the scientific method (observation, philosophers such as hobbes and locke game ideas. The classical school: cesare beccaria, criticized the cruelty, inhumanity, and the arbitrariness of the current justice system, helped focus the movement for humanitarian reform in europe. If people know the laws and punishments, they can make the rational choice to not engage in crime.
