SOCIOLOGY OF CRIME, SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM AND SOME PROBLEMATIC QUALITIES OF RADICAL CRIMINOLOGY (FROM DEVIANT INTERPRETATIONS, 1979, BY DAVID DOWNES AND PAUL ROCK - SEE NCJ-58238)

• NCJ Number: 58241
• Author(s): P ROCK
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 33 pages
• Corporate Author: Martin Robertson and Co Ltd
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

RADICAL CRIMINOLOGY IS EXPLORED IN TERMS OF HOW IT DIFFERS FROM OTHER HISTORICAL PHASES OF CRIMINOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR APPLICATION IN ANALYZING DEVIANCE AND THE SOCIOLOGY OF CRIME.

Abstract

THE COURSE OF CRIMINOLOGY HAS PASSED THROUGH THREE STAGES INCLUDING THE ANTIQUARIAN, INTERACTIONIST PHASE, AND RADICAL PHASES. THERE IS A GREAT GULF BETWEEN THE LATTER TWO. RADICAL CRIMINOLOGY SEARCHES FOR THE ROOTS AND ESSENCES OF SOCIAL LIFE; IT IS DIRECTED AT THE DISCOVERY OF AN ABSOLUTE SOCIETY WHICH SUBTENDS ALL THE MUNDANE APPEARANCES OF EXPERIENCE. IT ESCHEWS EVERY EXPLORATORY USE OF THE SENSES AND IT PLACES REALITY IN A REALM WHICH CAN ONLY BE INTUITED BY A CONSCIOUSNESS WHICH IS IDEOLOGICALLY ATTUNED. BY CONTRAST, SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM AFFIRMS THAT PHENOMENA ARE REAL ENOUGH IN THEIR PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCES SINCE THEY SHAPE THE CONTOURS AND MATERIALS OF THE SOCIAL WORLD AND NOTHING ELSE MAY BE AS SURELY MAPPED. RADICAL CRIMINOLOGY REPRESENTS AN ANALYTIC DISTILLATION OF EVERYTHING THAT IS SOCIALLY SIGNIFICANT. THE RADICAL CRIMINOLOGIST SEES AN ENTITY CALLED 'SOCIAL TOTALITY'. THAT TOTALITY IS THE NOUMENAL TRUTH OF SOCIETY WHICH COMPREHENDS ALL THAT IS IMPORTANT AND FUNDAMENTAL. RADICAL, OR CRITICAL, CRIMINOLOGY APPEARS TO OFFER A SUCCINCT, PROGRAMMATIC AND ALLEGEDLY EXHAUSTIVE MASTER SCHEME. HOWEVER, DIFFICULTIES ARISE FORM THE CONCEPTION OF A NEW CONSCIOUSNESS, AND FROM THE FOCUS ON ESSENCES AND TOTALITIES. WHEN PHENOMENA ARE DISCREDITED AS UNREAL, THE ORGANIZING CENTER OF A DISCIPLINE WILL ITSELF BECOME WEAKENED. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEMS BLOCKING THE REALIZATION OF A RADICAL CRIMINOLOGICAL ARGUMENT. THE CLAIMS FOR TOTALITY ARE URGENT AT THE LEVEL OF CRITICISM OR MANIFESTO, BUT THEY BECOME OBSTRUCTIVE WHEN THERE IS ANY ATTEMPT TO UNDERTAKE FOCUSED OR SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS. RADICAL CRIMINOLOGY HAS RESTORED A CONCERN WITH THE TRADITIONAL PROBLEMS OF SOCIETY, BUT IT CANNOT FEASIBLY FOCUS ON DEEP TRUTHS AND ESSENCES. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED. SEE NCJ-58238. (LWM)