The foundation and re-emergence of classical thought in criminological theory

Abstract

This chapter pays homage to the history that has become popularly known as the classical school of criminology. It begins with a brief discussion of the early philosophical history of classical criminology and its origins not so much in Beccaria, but in both the French Encyclopedists and the English moral philosophers and free thinkers. The bulk of attention will be devoted to the reappearance of classical theory assumptions since the late 1960s in the form of deterrence, routine activities, and rational choice theory. The most general of the decision-based theories is taken, with rational choice theory with deterrence and routine activities theories as more specific variations of rational choice theory. Regardless of any subtle differences, all these theories share the common assumption that offending is a matter of choice based upon the anticipated costs and benefits of the action, and so all are premised on classical criminology.