Positivism in criminological thought : a study in the history and use of ideas / Teresa J. Neyhouse.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Neyhouse, Teresa J. (Teresa Jeanne), 1971-

Contributor:

Lipman Criminology Library Fund.

Series:

Criminal justice (LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC)

Criminal justice : recent scholarship

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Criminology.

Positivism.

Physical Description:

xi, 167 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : LFB Scholarly Publ., 2002.

Contents:

Research Question and General Background 1

Summary of Subsequent Chapters 6

2. Historical Methodology 9

Speculative v Critical Philosophy of History 9

Speculative Philosophy of History 9

Critical Philosophy of History 12

Historical Development 13

Intellectual History: The Importance of Ideas 15

Making Sense of Connections between Ideas and Developmental Influences 19

3. The Philosophy of Positivism 23

Positivism Defined 23

Positivism as the Protector of the Status Quo 24

Arguments Against the Notion that Positivism Is 'Just a Methodology' 29

Comte an Extremist? 29

Marxism and Positivism 30

4. Positivism in Criminology 37

The Importance of Positivism in Criminology as Ideology 44

Why Does Positivism Serve the Interests of the Status Quo? 49

How Are Status Quo Interests Translated into Action? 50

Positivism and the Issue of "Control" 51

5. Contractions and Long Swings in Capitalist Economies 59

Evidence that Characterizes Contractions 59

Quantitative Evidence 60

Long Swings Introduced 66

Debate Regarding "Cyclic" Aspect of Long Swings 67

Theories/Explanations for the Long Swings 68

The Important Role of Profit Rates 71

Choosing a Framework from which to Work 73

Dating of the Long Swings 77

The Significance of the Long Swing Theory for the Current Thesis 81

Attempts to Link Innovations with Long Swings 82

Long Swings and the Issue of "Control" 83

6. The Connection Between Long Swings and the Development of Criminological Positivism 85

General Qualitative Characteristics of Each of the Long Swing Phases 86

First Phase: Expansion (1790's-ca. 1820) and Contraction (ca. 1820-mid 1840's) 89

Second Phase: Expansion (mid 1840's-ca. 1873) and Contraction (1873-late 1890's) 90

Third Phase: Expansion (late 1890's-ca. 1914) and Contraction (1914-ca. 1940's) 92

Fourth Phase: Expansion (ca. 1940's-ca. 1966) and Contraction (ca. 1966-ca. 1979) 94

7. Analysis: The Relationship Between Long Swings and Positivist Criminology 97

Methodology 97

"Time" and "Place" Considerations 97

Hypotheses, Definitions, and Explanations 98

Criminological Positivist Writings 104

Summary of Results 126.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Lipman Criminology Library Fund.

ISBN:

1931202273

OCLC:

49225431