Cesare Beccaria (1738–94,) also known as Cesare Bonesana, Marquess di Beccaria, was an Italian philosopher, criminologist, and jurist whose ideas left an indelible mark on the development of modern criminal justice systems. Regarded as the father of modern criminal law and the Classical School of criminology, Beccaria authored the well-known work Dei delitti e delle pene, which became a foundational text in penology and criminology.
Born in Milan into a privileged family, Beccaria received a comprehensive education encompassing law, economics, and philosophy during his studies at a Jesuit school in Parma. In 1764, he anonymously published Dei delitti e delle pene (1764; Crimes and Punishment, 1880, translation by James Anson Farrer,) a groundbreaking treatise that vehemently condemned capital punishment and torture while promoting crime prevention through education. The work profoundly influenced the realms of punishment and crime prevention.
Beccaria emphasized the significance of a fair and transparent legal process that upheld the rights of the accused, advocated for the separation of powers within the judiciary, and advocated that punishments should serve as deterrents rather than inflict unnecessary suffering. His ideas challenged the prevailing practices of his time, which often relied on arbitrary and brutal punishments.
Beccaria also held the position of professor of political philosophy in Milan in 1768 and became a board member for judicial code reform in 1791. His ideas garnered widespread recognition and acclaim throughout Europe, significantly shaping the thoughts of Enlightenment thinkers and reformers of his era.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Cesare Beccaria
The ambitious man grasps at opinion as necessary to his designs; the vain man sues for it as a testimony to his merit; the honest man demands it as his due; and most men consider it as necessary to their existence.
—Cesare Beccaria
Topics: Opinion
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