The purpose of this dissertation is twofold. First, it is an explication of "Critical Criminology"--a theoretical perspective that currently challenges the hegemony of traditional "classical" and "positive" criminologies. It is not, however, a comprehensive explication because not all theorists who consider themselves "Critical Criminologists" are represented. Nevertheless, a non-random but representative group is cited. Secondly, it is a critique of "Critical Criminology." However, it is not an exhaustive critique since not all the criticisms leveled at "Critical Criminology" are examined. It is rather a critique from an historically-informed "critical theory" or "reflexive-revisionist" Marxist perspective. It is argued that an essential criterion of "critical theory" is an analysis of the import of philosophical assumptions. This is considered necessary in order that important components of the theoretical enterprise (e.g., the social and personal contexts in which explanations and conclusions are formed and made) are not omitted, as is typically done in traditional "positivistic" science, in general, and criminology, in particular. In other words, it is maintained that in order to understand the entire theoretical enterprise of "Critical Criminology" and subject it to a "critical theory" or a "reflexive-revisionist" Marxism, not only must the theoretical propositions of "Critical Criminology" be subjected to explication and critique, but so must the philosophical assumptions that inform those theoretical propositions. Specifically then, this dissertation is an explication of some of the philosophical assumptions and theoretical propositions of "Critical Criminology," which, as argued here, are based primarily on an "instrumentalist" (that is, "ruling class determinist") or "structuralist" (that is, "economic determinist") Marxism and a critique of / "Critical Criminology" from a "critical theory" or "reflexive-revisionist" (that is, "relational" or "dialectical") Marxist perspective. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 41-02, Section: A, page: 0811. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1980.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77779 |
| Contributors | BOHM, ROBERT MARK., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 445 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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