Explain the difference between the preclassical school perspective and the classical theory of crime, especially in terms of the stance on human nature.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers should address the idea that during the era that the preclassical
perspective dominated, there were few codified laws, thus people were left to the
arbitrary determinations by judges. A small group of nobilities controlled everything and
often got away with crime while the ordinary people were punished harshly for minor
offenses. Theories developed during the classical era were often called for a more
structured and codified, less arbitrary justice system. For example, Beccaria called for a
predictable system that would allow for the deterrence of offenders and would be
offenders based on the expected swiftness, certainty and severity of the punishment
they would face. Bentham called for a system in which offenders could weigh the
expected pains and pleasures of an offense prior to committing the crime. Prior to the
classical era, human nature was seen in one of three ways: humans were inherently
selfish and hedonistic; humans were born essentially pure and good; or humans were a
tabula rasa, a blank slate. The classical perspective takes the first approach put forth by
Thomas Hobbes--that humans are inherently selfish and hedonistic. Humans were seen
as seeking to maximize pleasure while minimize pain.