Pioneers in Criminology. VII. Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)

Abstract

Such is not the case, however, with Bentham.A very large part of Benthan's thought is badly dated.Reading his works may not arouse the froth that drove Karl Marx to immortalize Bentham (in a certain way, at least) with the bombastic assertion that "in no time and in no country has the most homespun commonplace ever strutted about in so self-satisfied a way."'2 But neither will it likely impress the present-day criminologist with its immediate relevance, particularly in the sphere of criminological theory.With the above in mind, then, the direction of the present paper can be labeled.No attempt will be made to detail all of Bentham's major postulations, but only those will be treated which appear to have interest or value for contemporary times.This will lead to a skewed portrait of Bentham's production.Often minor points will be taken out of context if the remainder of the context is not presently relevant.Thus, for instance, an elaborate reproduction of Bentham's catalogue of types of crimes would appear meaningless now; yet, within this catalogue there is an occasional differentiation which has today the germ of a neat analytical separation.This paper will discuss: First, Bentham's life and times; second, his theories of criminality; and third, his unique contribution to penology-the Panopticon prison design.

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