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Pros And Cons Of Positivist Theory

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Positivist Theory
Positivist theory was created from positive philosophy and the influences of practical science (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Positivists rejected the established philosophy of Enlightenment thinkers (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). When society went through significant changes during the American and French revolutions as well as a middle class that united in strength and the Industrial Revolution is when positive philosophy took its roots (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Saint-Simon was a socialist who has been referred to as the founder of the positivist theory. However, it was his protégé, Auguste Comte who actually created the term positivist (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). The basis of positivist theory is that natural law outweighs the laws created by man and mans free will is eliminated for cause of criminal behavior (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). A key part to …show more content…
Comte believed that lower class people needed to submit to the elite class for social order to exist (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). This theory is considered very conservative and by having an order of classes of people based on intellect, this would help prevent social disorders, which lead to revolutions (Bohm & Vogel, 2011).

Towards the end of the 19th Century Italy takes credit for forming the positivist school of criminology, however, this school of thought was better received in the United States (Frampton, 2013). In fact, even though the positivist school has been widely rejected, it still maintains an influence in our criminal justice system today (Frampton, 2013). The main reason for the positivist school of criminology was to study how crime was derived so that it can be eliminated (Frampton,

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