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Theories Of The Age Of Enlightenment

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Before the 17th century, people believed that when someone committed a criminal act it was not because they chose to do so, but because of some supernatural force, such as the full moon or demonic possession. Offending acts were punished by a wide range of inhumane acts including but not limited to being tarred and feathered, quartered, burned alive, beheaded, drowned, or stoned to death. This way of thinking and punishing offenders continued through the 1600’s until the Age of Enlightenment. It was during this time that Thomas Hobbes wrote a book proposing theories that would change the way many people think about other individuals and their actions. Thomas Hobbes’ most influential contributions to the Age of Enlightenment were his …show more content…

He proposed that the defendant would be protected from false or secret accusations, allowing them the right to confront and/or cross examine their accuser. Furthermore, all defendants would be given a trail and the outcome would be based upon the decision of a group of the defendant’s peers, not one biased judge. The proposed system would also ensure that the public was educated about the new system and understood its laws and processes. Beccaria believed that to prevent crimes the public should understand the laws and decisions made by their justice system, and that no defendants would be subjected to torturous acts. Beccaria’s proposal was very specific on the means in which an offender should be punished. He believed an appropriate punishment could help deter criminal activity, but too harsh a punishment could cause more crime. It is this belief that caused Beccaria to oppose capital punishment. He felt that this sort of punishment went against the social contract, in turn setting a negative example for others within the society. He also strongly believed that capital punishment did not deter crime but that it in fact could cause a brutalization effect.
Beccaria’s influences of the enlightenment caused him to believe that individuals can make rational decisions, including whether to commit a crime. He also

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