“False is the idea of utility that sacrifices a thousand real advantages for one imaginary or trifling inconvenience; that would take fire from men because it burns, and water because one may drown in it; that has no remedy for evils except destruction. The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes.”
Quote by Cesare Beccaria
Work
On crimes and punishments
This influential treatise presents arguments for humane treatment in the criminal justice system, questioning the legitimacy of torture and capital punishment. The author argues for proportional punishment, the social contract between citizens and government, and the necessity of clear, predictable laws. The work emphasizes that punishments should serve as deterrents and corrections rather than instruments of cruelty, advocating for reforms that would establish justice based on reason rather than arbitrary power. more
Author
Cesare Beccaria
Cesare Beccaria was an Italian philosopher, economist, and lawyer, known for his influential work in criminal justice and his advocacy for the separation of powers. He is best remembered for his book 'On Crimes and Punishments', which argued for the application of reason in criminal law and the abolition of torture and capital punishment. more