One of the major contributors to the growth of classical criminology was the Italian Enlightenment philosopher Cesare Beccaria. He was born in 1738, a period when Europe was rife with injustice and severe penalties. Beccaria's seminal work "On Crimes and Punishments" contested the idea that punishment ought to be harsh and promoted treating criminals humanely.

Beccasia explored the intricate connection between justice and society in his writings. He maintained that theologians play a part in determining what behaviors are morally right or wrong. In their religious context, this is similar to priests deciding which sins are more serious. Nonetheless, Beccaria thought that people who watch and engage in public life, like citizens and politicians, should be the ones to comprehend how laws impact the welfare of society.

Imagine justice as a river that flows through the terrain of values and conventions in society. Theologians map out the banks of the river, indicating where the water should flow according to moral principles, much like a cartographer would. However, Beccaria saw public life observers as navigators who know how to steer the boat within those demarcated boundaries so that the trip is advantageous to all those on board.

Beccaria's perspective was groundbreaking because it questioned the notion that only religious leaders had the authority to enforce the law and administer justice. He established the foundation for a more logical approach to criminal justice by separating moral judgment from the application of the law. Many reformers who aimed to humanize laws and lessen the harshness of punishment systems were influenced by his ideas.

All things considered, Cesare Beccaria's contribution to the study of justice stems from his conviction that, although morality establishes ethical bounds, pragmatic considerations direct the application of these principles to improve society.