The Classical School of Criminology and its Importance for the Development of Criminological Thinking
2023
Abstract
The classical school of criminology can be defined timewise as beginning in the middle of the 18th century and ending approximately in the 1930s. The classical school of criminology was formed in Europe, deriving its sources from the clash between medieval criminal law and the ideas of the Enlightenment, natural law and philosophical rationalism.
The author analyses the social, economic, and philosophical background underlying to the emergence of this school of criminology. He characterises the contribution of the classical school of criminology for the development of criminological thought.
He also discusses the work of thinkers Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham.