POSITIVIST

PHILOSOPHERS
Introduction to Criminology
WHAT IS
POSITIVISM?
The term “positivism” refers to a method of
analysis based on the collection of observable
scientific facts.
CESARE LOMBROSO
(1835-1909)
Cesare Lobroso (1835-1909)
He was an Italian Physician
He is the Father of Modern Criminology
Other writers have reffered to him as the
Father of Italian/positive School of
Criminology.
Lombroso became interested in Charles
Darwin’s theory of evolution.
 also known for the concept of atavistic
stigma
 MAJOR TENETS OF
LOMBROSO’S
1. Applied THEORY
the concepts of ATAVISM (throwback and reversal to an earlier trait of
ancestors) for his ideas about the evolution of crimes
2. Criminals are biological throwback to a primitive stage of evolution.
3. Conducted thousands of post mortem exams of criminals and concluded that in effect
criminals are a subhuman species.
4. There are three classes of criminals, namely;
• Born Criminals – atavism
• Insane Criminals – idiots, imbeciles, demented, and paralyzed.
• Criminaloids – not born with physical stigmata but who are of such mental make-up
that they display antisocial behavior.
5. Started reoriented thinking to the study of criminology by focusing on the offender,
not the offense from crimes to criminals.
RAFFAELE GAROFALO (1852-
1934)
- An Italian lawyer and legislator, he also became a
prominent spokesman for the Italian school of
criminology.

- He agreed with Lombroso that biological

characteristics could help in the identification of
serious and persistent criminals.

- He focused on the brain rather than the external facial

and skeletal features.

- Garofalo suggested the most of the deficiencies

exhibited by criminals would ultimately involve
“moral abnormalities” rather than physical
abnormalities.
MAJOR TENETS OF
GAROFALO’S THEORY
1. To understand the criminal, it is necessary to have meaningful definition of crime
2. Distinguishes between two types of crimes:
a. Natural Crimes – those that violate two basic “altruistic sentiments” (altruism is unselfish
regards for a devotion to the welfare of others.
 Pity - revulsion against the involuntary infliction of sufferings on others.
 Probity - respect for the property rights of others.

b. Police Crime - do not offer altruistic sentiments but are called crimes by law.

Sociology – was the name given by Comte to the discipline that would scientifically study
human social behavior and human societies.
Altruism - refers to the tendency to be empathetic and self –sacrificing towards others.
ENRICO FERRI
(1856-1929)
- developed his ideas in the course of his work as a
university proffesor,trial lawyer, member of Parliament,
newspaper editor, public lecturer and author.

- He also published a book “Criminal Sociology”.

- He focused his study on the influences of physchology

factors and sociological factors such as economics on
crimes.

- He belived that moral insensibility combined with low

intelligence were the criminals most marked
characteristics.
 MAJOR TENETS OF FERRI’S
1.
THEORY
Considered crime as the “effect of multiple causes” that includes a large number of
anthropological, physical, and social factors.
2. Classified criminals as:
 Born or instinctive – who carries from birth, through unfortunate heredity from his progenitor, a
reduced resistance to criminal stimuli and also an evident and precocious propensity to crime.
 Insane - affected by clinically identified mental disease or by a neuropsychopathic condition, which
groups him with the mentally diseased.
 Passional - who, in two varieties, the criminal through passion (a prolonged and chronic mental state)
or through emotion explosive and unexpected mental state) represents a type at the opposite pole from
the criminal due to congenital tendencies.
 Occasional – who constitute the majority of lawbreakers and is the product of family and social
milieu more than of abnormal personal physio-mental conditions
 Habitual – or a criminal acquired by habit, who is mostly a product of the social or a criminal by
acquired environment in which, due to abandonment by his family, lack of education, poverty, and
bad companions, already in his childhood begins as an occasional offender.