Preview

History of Criminological Thought

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
4746 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
History of Criminological Thought
CRM 1301: History of Criminological Thought
Thomas hobbes
Thomas Hobbes: The State of nature and the Basis of Society * Thomas Hobbes ‘‘Leviathan’’ or The Matter, Form and Power of a Common-Wealth, Ecclesiastical and civil (1651)
Context of Hobbes study: * Conflict between monarch and parliament * Catholicism/Protestantism * War
Hobbes believed that the civil peace was a very fragile thing, and that chaos could and did break through the veneer of civilization. Hobbes wanted to scientifically (through reasoning or reckoning using a method purged from ambiguity) study human relations.

Conditions: What is the State of nature?
A fictitious scenario where all are equal in mind and body (Differences exist but are not significant). Virtual equality brings hope that things can be done as everybody is equal both in means and capacity (HOPE).

PROBLEM:
There are two opposing desires in human nature:

This is the principal reason equality is not a good thing in a State of Nature as man is bound to clash. Laws of nature Laws of nature exist in a State of Nature. For Hobbes, true values were based on the need for self-preservation. Thus, he defined a law of nature as ‘‘a precept, or general rule, found out by reason, by which a man is forbidden to do ,that, which is destructive of his life, or taketh away the means of preserving the same; and to omit,that, by which he thinketh it may be best preserved. ‘’ (clash of interests +scarcity= problem) Existed before man. We can discover the laws of nature with reason (i.e. ability to think for ourselves). The laws are immutable and eternal. ‘‘That every man ought to endeavor to peace, as far as he has hope of obtaining it and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use, all helps, and advantages of war.’’ The use of the word ought, it is a command or prescription. It is a statement of the rationality of people. SECOND LAW OF NATURE: Push for peace ‘’That a man be willing,

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    “When we fail to pursue peace, then it stays forever beyond our grasp. That's where human progress ends.”…

    • 2398 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In The Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes uses a scientific method to analyze humankind. Additionally, he examines natural law, the social and political contracts. The natural condition results in war through desire, but we are able to escape this through seeking peace. By using the social contract, humans can become peaceful. By using reason, Hobbes is able to explain the human condition according to him.…

    • 690 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    History Of Criminology

    • 352 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Throughout recorded history, from as early as the 17th Century, there have been a plethora of inhumane sadistic crimes resulting in the death of countless individuals. Some of the most callous crimes trace back as early as the 1800s; particularly to the infamous Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, “H.H. Holmes”, America’s very first serial killer. As such, in the mid-18th century the field of Criminology arose. This new field allowed individuals to study crime as well as why individuals commit them. Furthermore, this contemporary field allows individuals, such as a criminologist, to analyze crime and develop theories as to why people deviate from socially accepted norms. Although the Criminology field has undergone much development since it arose in the…

    • 352 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hobbes was a philosopher who saw humans as a purely physical being. He believed that all human actions can be explained through the motions in our bodies. According to Hobbes all feelings and emotions are a result of phantasms, our perception of the objects around us. This perception is a motion within our bodies and each person perceives these phantasms differently causing love, hate, desires, and what we think is good and bad. Every feeling that comes from ones perspective has a physical feeling, such as desires can cause certain pains and it is only human nature that one does whatever is needed in order to relieve those pains. Hobbes therefore sees humans as being able, by their state of nature, to take or do whatever necessary for themselves even if it shows no regard for the other people their actions may harm. This inevitably would end up in a fight for survival or “the war of all against all”. In order to prevent such a war from happening Hobbes thought it necessary that the individuals must promise each other to give up their right to govern themselves to the sovereign for the mutual benefit of the people. This sovereign then has absolute power to rule with no questions asked and not to only act on behalf of the citizens but to completely embody their will. In summation, Hobbes believed that society could only exist under power of the sovereign and that life in the state of nature is violent, short and brutish, as all men act on self-interest.…

    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Criminological Theory

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the Criminal Justice system, conducting research is vital to understanding the occurrence of crimes. Therefore, when establishing a theory to format a systematic process of collecting and analyzing information to increase the public understanding of criminal behaviors, researchers must adequately contribute to the understanding of such theory and communicate that understanding to others (William & McShane, 2010).…

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Exegesis of Thomas Hobbes

    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Thomas Hobbes was an Englishman who wrote the Leviathan during the English Civil War in the 17th century. Naturally Hobbes spends chapter five, and most of the Leviathan describing how to avoid internal conflict. Hobbes argues that by using logical reasoning and eliminating disagreement a state can avoid internal conflict. Hobbes begins chapter five with a definition for reason and the operations that are involved. Hobbes continues his explanation of reason by describing the proper use of reasoning and how absurdity arises. He elaborates on errors and absurdities, explicitly their causes. Hobbes ends chapter five with his description of the connection between reason and science.…

    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Equality means no matter what differences an individual has they are equally entitled to be offered the same opportunities as the next individual. All people are equal as being part of the human race.…

    • 701 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Enlightenment Thinkers

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher of the 1600's, tried to create a science of politics. After witnessing the horrors of the English Civil War, Hobbes decided that conflict was part of human nature. Without governments to keep order, Hobbes said, there would be "war of everyone against everyone". In this state of nature life would be "nasty, brutish, and short." In his book Leviathan, Hobbes argued that to escape such a bleak life, people gave up their rights to a strong ruler. In exchange, they gained law and order. Hobbes called this agreement, by which people created a government, the social contract. Hobbes basically saw people as naturally selfish and violent.…

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Hobbes, T. 1651. ‘Leviathan’ M. Hechter and C. Horne (eds.) 2003. Theories of Social Order: A Reader. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press: 166-178…

    • 1983 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    hobbes and kant

    • 1500 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Hobbes was a different kind of philosopher that had a very pessimistic view on humanity. In Hobbes’ book the Leviathan, he believed that humans were naturally nasty creatures and needed to be regulated in a society. For Hobbes one thing he also believed in was Utilitarianism, which is the desire for pleasure that drives our actions, basically, the most useful choice for your benefit. Hobbes had a theory that was called “the state of nature”, which in the eyes of Hobbes was life for humans before any kind of laws or governments. He says that the state of nature is a violent place with no lows. In the state of nature there is no business, no account of time, buildings, and there is always danger around the corner. For Hobbes the “state of nature” was a savage place that could only be fixed by laws, there is only peace when there is no war and no war is a place with laws. Hobbes came to the conclusion that humans cant live in groups without law. Hobbes was…

    • 1500 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hobbes

    • 673 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Natural and inherently known by all because it can be deduced by innate mental faculties (reason, philosophy).…

    • 673 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bibliography: Hobbes, Thomas. "The Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes." Oregon State University. Web. 08 June 2009. .…

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Hobbes, Thomas. The Elements of Law, Natural and Politic: To Which Are Subjoined Selected Extracts from Unprinted Mss. of Thomas Hobbes. Edited by Ferdinand Tönnies. London: Simpkin, Marshall and Company, 1889. Electronic version retrieved from: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/Hob2Ele.html…

    • 1632 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    ccld unit 3

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Equality – Equality ensures that everyone is treated equally in a way that is appropriate for their individual needs. It does not necessarily mean treated the same as individuals requirements differ.…

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Bibliography: Gauthier, D. (1969) The Logic of ‘Leviathan’: The Moral and Political Theory of Thomas Hobbes. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.…

    • 3361 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays