Criminology Course - Class 1.2

Summary

The video script delves into the evolution of criminology, distinguishing between its pre-scientific and scientific phases. In the pre-scientific phase, criminology was intertwined with concepts of vengeance and demonology, with crime often attributed to supernatural influences. Influential philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle contributed early thoughts on crime and criminals. The scientific phase, beginning in the 19th century, marked criminology as an empirical and interdisciplinary field, with Cesare Lombroso recognized as its precursor. His work on criminal anthropology and the physical characteristics of criminals laid the foundation for modern criminology, though debates persist over other contributors.

Takeaways

• 😀 The evolution of criminology is often divided into two historical phases: the pre-scientific and the scientific phases.
• 😀 In the pre-scientific phase, criminology wasn't a science, but early attempts to study crime, criminals, and punishment began, much like the embryonic stage of criminal law.
• 😀 Ancient Greek philosophers, including Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, contributed to early discussions on crime and criminals, laying the groundwork for future criminological studies.
• 😀 The concept of vengeance (private, public, and divine) in ancient societies predates formal criminal law, showcasing the early human attempts to regulate crime.
• 😀 The pre-scientific phase is marked by the concept of 'demonology,' which linked criminal behavior to demonic influence, particularly in the context of mental illness.
• 😀 Mental health issues were often misunderstood in the pre-scientific phase, leading to harmful practices where people with mental illness were blamed for being possessed by demons.
• 😀 Demonology as a concept in criminology gained importance, particularly during the Middle Ages, with various treatises categorizing demons and their supposed influence on criminal behavior.
• 😀 The transition to the scientific phase of criminology began in the 19th century, driven by advancements in empirical research and interdisciplinary methods.
• 😀 Cesare Lombroso, with his work *'The Criminal Man,'* is widely regarded as the precursor to criminology as a modern science, though there is some debate about other potential pioneers.
• 😀 Lombroso's theories in the 19th century laid the foundation for criminology as a distinct, autonomous science focused on empirical research and the study of criminals and their behavior.

Q & A

What is the main focus of criminology as discussed in the transcript?

Criminology primarily focuses on the study of crime, criminals, victims, and the mechanisms of social control, with an interdisciplinary and empirical approach.

How does the lecture distinguish between the pre-scientific and scientific phases of criminology?

The pre-scientific phase is characterized by early attempts to understand crime without scientific methods, focusing on concepts like vengeance (private, public, and divine). In contrast, the scientific phase marks the development of criminology as a formal, empirical, and interdisciplinary science.

What role did ancient Greek philosophers play in the development of criminology?

Ancient Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle discussed themes related to crime and criminals, although their work was not criminology in a scientific sense. Their discussions laid the groundwork for future criminological thought.

What is the concept of 'demonology' and how does it relate to criminology?

Demonology is the study of demons and was historically used to explain criminal behavior. In the pre-scientific phase of criminology, criminal acts were often attributed to demonic influence, especially in cases involving mental illness. This led to harmful practices against those with mental health conditions.

How did the conception of 'demons' change from ancient Greece to the rise of Christianity?

In ancient Greece, 'demons' were seen as spiritual guides or guardians, as illustrated by Socrates’ 'daimon.' However, with the rise of Christianity, demons came to be seen as malevolent forces, contributing to the belief that criminals were under demonic influence.

What role did Philippe Pinel play in the development of criminology?

Philippe Pinel, a French physician in the 18th century, rejected the demonological explanation for mental illness. He introduced a more scientific understanding of mental health, which laid the foundation for the later development of criminal psychology in the 19th century.

What was Cesare Lombroso’s contribution to criminology?

Cesare Lombroso is widely considered the precursor to modern criminology. His work, particularly his book *The Criminal Man*, applied empirical and scientific methods to study criminals, marking the beginning of criminology as an autonomous science.

Why is Cesare Lombroso considered the precursor of modern criminology?

Lombroso is seen as the precursor because he was one of the first to apply scientific, empirical methods to the study of crime, focusing on the biological and physical traits of criminals. His approach helped transform criminology into a formal and independent science.

What is the significance of the 'empirical' and 'interdisciplinary' nature of criminology?

The empirical nature of criminology means it relies on data and observation to understand crime, while its interdisciplinary approach incorporates insights from fields like sociology, psychology, and biology to study crime from multiple angles.

What are the controversies surrounding the origins of criminology?

While Cesare Lombroso is widely accepted as the precursor to criminology, there are some controversies, with other scholars also claiming to have contributed to the early development of the field. However, Lombroso is the most commonly recognized figure due to his significant influence on the scientific study of crime.