Breaking the Habit: An Aristotelian Look at Recidivism

Based on the paper “Breaking the Habit: Aristotle on Recidivism and How a Thoroughly Vicious Person Might Begin to Improve,” this webinar will .. Read more provide an opportunity to bring moral philosophy to bear on the contemporary criminal justice system by considering how Aristotle might have attempted to solve the problem of criminal recidivism. This problem seems particularly American, as 66% of paroled or released prisoners in the United States of America re-offend within five years. We will apply Aristotelian logic to recidivism, ultimately suggesting that the only way to reform someone entrenched in bad habits requires two seamless steps.