What was a significant contribution of the Age of Enlightenment to criminology?

A significant contribution of the Age of Enlightenment to criminology was the emphasis on reason and rationality in understanding crime. During this period, thinkers began to challenge traditional beliefs and superstition about crime and punishment, advocating for the idea that individuals make rational choices based on their self-interest. This philosophical shift led to the view that crime can be understood through a lens of human behavior and decision-making processes rather than solely as a result of moral failing or divine intervention.

The Enlightenment thinkers, such as Cesare Beccaria, argued for reforming the justice system by suggesting that laws should be clear and consistent, and that punishment should fit the crime in order to deter criminal behavior. This focus on rationality laid the groundwork for modern criminological theories that explore how social, environmental, and psychological factors influence criminal behavior. By promoting the idea that individuals act out of rational consideration of their choices, this Enlightenment perspective significantly impacted legal systems and the development of criminological thought.

Other contributions, while relevant to the field, stemmed from later developments or different contexts. The focus on rehabilitation arose more prominently in the 19th century with the rise of penology, psychological theories of crime continue to evolve beyond the Enlightenment, and community policing emerged in the