Question 1

During the Classical era, the primary focus of utilitarian philosophers was to transform arbitrary criminal justice into a fair, equal, and humanitarian system.

Accepted Answer

During the Classical era, utilitarian philosophers such as Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham were focused on transforming arbitrary criminal justice systems into fair, equal, and humanitarian systems. They advocated for the rationalization of laws and punishments, the elimination of torture and excessive punishments, and the imposition of penalties proportionate to the seriousness of the crime committed.

Question 2

In the Classical era, the 'respectable poor,' which included vagabonds, tramps, rogues, and dissolute women, were described as worthless, and were to be punished with imprisonment and whipping before being trained for honest work.

Accepted Answer

In the Classical era, the 'respectable poor' referred to those who were poor but willing to work, as opposed to vagabonds, tramps, rogues, and dissolute women, who were considered 'idle' or 'undeserving poor' and subject to punishment and forced labor.

Question 3

In the Classical era, the 'unrespectable poor' were seen as the responsibility of the more fortunate and would be segregated by their class and condition and given immediate assistance, including shelter, treatment, adequate maintenance, and, in the case of the children, education and training, in a variety of houses and hospitals around the country.

Accepted Answer

During the Classical era, there was not a systematic approach to welfare or social assistance as described. The concept of the 'unrespectable poor' being the responsibility of the more fortunate, with organized provision of shelter, treatment, maintenance, and education, reflects more modern social welfare policies rather than practices of the Classical era.

Question 4

Classical theory did not strive to explain why people commit crime. Rather, it was a strategy for administering justice according to rational principles.

Accepted Answer

Classical theory was focused on creating a rational system of justice, rather than understanding the reasons behind criminal behavior.

Question 5

According to Cesare Beccaria, the principle of utility refers to the belief that individual rights have priority over the interests of society or the state.

Accepted Answer

The principle of utility, as argued by Beccaria, refers to the belief that the interests of society or the state have priority over individual rights.

Question 6

Cesare Beccaria believed that crimes offended society because they broke the social contract, resulting in an infringement on others' freedom.

Accepted Answer

Cesare Beccaria's theory of criminal justice, as outlined in his book "On Crimes and Punishments," emphasized the idea that crimes are not just offenses against individuals, but against society as a whole. He believed that individuals entered into a social contract with one another, agreeing to limit their individual freedoms in order to create a stable and efficient society. Therefore, when someone committed a crime, they were not only harming the individual victim, but violating the social contract and infringing on others' freedoms.

Question 7

Cesare Beccaria's principle of the presumption of innocence was designed to protect individual rights against excessive state power or corrupt officials.

Accepted Answer

The principle of the presumption of innocence is based on the idea that a person is innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. This principle was championed by Cesare Beccaria and is designed to protect individual rights against state power and corrupt officials.

Question 8

Cesare Beccaria believed that government was not the automatic right of the rich. Rather, it was created through a social contract in which free, rational individuals sacrificed part of their freedom to the state to maintain peace and security on behalf of the common good.

Accepted Answer

Cesare Beccaria was an advocate of social contract theory and believed that individuals willingly gave up some of their freedoms to the government in order to receive protection and security in return. He argued that government should not be the privilege of the rich, but rather a responsibility of those chosen to govern for the common good.

Question 9

The principle of just deserts means that convicted offenders deserve punishment that is proportionate to the seriousness of the harm they caused.

Accepted Answer

The principle of just deserts is based on the idea that offenders should be punished proportionately to the harm they caused, rather than based on other factors such as their socioeconomic status or personal characteristics. This principle is often associated with retributive justice, which emphasizes the moral responsibility of individuals and the need for punishment as a means of restoring balance to society.

Question 10

The term general deterrence refers to the encouragement of each individual to calculate the costs of committing the crime.

Accepted Answer

General deterrence aims to discourage the general public from committing crimes by making an example out of those who are caught and punished, rather than focusing on the individual's cost-benefit analysis of committing a crime.

Question 11

Cesare Beccaria argued that if punishments are to be an effective deterrent in individual calculations, they must be severe, which refers to a high chance of apprehension and punishment.

Accepted Answer

Cesare Beccaria actually argued that punishments should be swift and certain, rather than severe. He believed that if the punishment was immediate and definitely going to happen, it would be more effective in deterring crime than a severe punishment that may not happen or may happen far in the future.

Question 12

According to Cesare Beccaria, for punishment to appear as a deterrent to potential off enders in relation to the offense committed, then it must also occur swiftly after apprehension, that is, with celerity.

Accepted Answer

Cesare Beccaria believed that punishment must occur swiftly after apprehension in order to serve as a deterrent to potential offenders.

Question 13

The term specific deterrence means using the punishment of one individual to discourage others from committing crime.

Accepted Answer

Specific deterrence refers to the use of punishment to deter or discourage the specific individual being punished from committing future offenses.

Question 14

Jeremy Bentham saw law's purpose as increasing the total happiness of the community by excluding 'mischief ' and promoting pleasure and security.

Accepted Answer

This is an accurate explanation of Bentham's belief in the purpose of law.

Question 15

Jeremy Bentham offered the notion of the hedonistic, or felicity, calculus as an explanation for people's actions. This calculus states that people act to increase positive results through their pursuit of pleasure and to reduce negative outcomes through the avoidance of pain.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately reflects Jeremy Bentham's philosophy of hedonism and his belief that people are motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain.

Question 16

The first 'house of correction,' London's ____________, was established in 1556 and was designed to train the poor to work through discipline.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The first 'house of correction,' London's ____________,...

Question 17

Cesare Beccaria believed that government was not the automatic right of the rich. Rather, it was created through a _____________ in which free, rational individuals sacrificed part of their freedom to the state to maintain peace and security on behalf of the common good.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Cesare Beccaria believed that government was not...

Question 18

According to Cesare Beccaria, the principle of ___________ refers to the belief that individual rights have priority over the interests of society or the state.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Cesare Beccaria, the principle of...

Question 19

Cesare Beccaria believed that ___________ offended society because they broke the social contract, resulting in an infringement on others' freedom.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Cesare Beccaria believed that ___________ offended society...

Question 20

Cesare Beccaria's principle of the presumption of ____________, designed to protect individual rights against excessive state power or corrupt officials.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Cesare Beccaria's principle of the presumption of...

Quiz 3: Classical, Neoclassical, and Rational-Choice Theories