Criminology is defined as the study of criminals, criminal justice and crime itself. Coming to light in the 18th century during the ‘enlightenment’ era, criminology explores how criminal laws are created as well as violated and what happens to those who violate the law. Laws are created according to certain situations; they are historically shaped and vary depending on the time and place (Carrabine et al, 2009: page 4). This report will critically evaluate Cesare Beccaria’s (1764) view on human nature through his On Crimes and Punishments essay.
The introduction of the essay clearly states that laws are also the result of the distillation of “the actions of multitude of men” in order to promote the “greatest happiness shared by the greatest …show more content…
Beccaria writes that all individuals have a ‘manner of rationality’ in which they use to make decisions. As rational ‘creatures’, humans are said to have the skill to weigh out the possible outcomes of their chosen actions, predicting which actions may benefit or harm their lives. if the negative consequence outweighs the gain of the crime, the rational theory argues that the crime will not be committed. Providing that our rational decisions are made on the increase of pleasure and the decrease of pain, it is clear that without a threat to our well-being, there is little to consider. He writes “it had to be defended against private usurpations by individuals each of whom always tries not only to withdraw his own share but also to usurp for himself that of others.” (Beccaria, 1986: page 5). Beccaria believed that humans have always measured the possible outcome of their actions against the reward of the situation. We have always tried to maximise our pleasures in life. However, Marxists would argue that authorities use large institutions to maintain a sense of ‘false-class consciousness’ over the working class. This is known as the “ideological state apparatus” (Althusser,2006: page 45-46). Thus, Beccaria’s theory, in the eyes of Marxists, laws are a way to benefit those who hold the power to create
The introduction of the essay clearly states that laws are also the result of the distillation of “the actions of multitude of men” in order to promote the “greatest happiness shared by the greatest …show more content…
Beccaria writes that all individuals have a ‘manner of rationality’ in which they use to make decisions. As rational ‘creatures’, humans are said to have the skill to weigh out the possible outcomes of their chosen actions, predicting which actions may benefit or harm their lives. if the negative consequence outweighs the gain of the crime, the rational theory argues that the crime will not be committed. Providing that our rational decisions are made on the increase of pleasure and the decrease of pain, it is clear that without a threat to our well-being, there is little to consider. He writes “it had to be defended against private usurpations by individuals each of whom always tries not only to withdraw his own share but also to usurp for himself that of others.” (Beccaria, 1986: page 5). Beccaria believed that humans have always measured the possible outcome of their actions against the reward of the situation. We have always tried to maximise our pleasures in life. However, Marxists would argue that authorities use large institutions to maintain a sense of ‘false-class consciousness’ over the working class. This is known as the “ideological state apparatus” (Althusser,2006: page 45-46). Thus, Beccaria’s theory, in the eyes of Marxists, laws are a way to benefit those who hold the power to create