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Abstract

This chapter introduces the book and explains that causation and causal explanations are central to human understanding. The chapter also begins to explain why the problem of causation has been such a thorn in the side of both philosophy and the natural/social sciences. It notes that the field of criminology essentially has three core aims: defining crime, explaining how crime occurs and deciding what to do about crime. It explains the aetiological crisis that has beset criminology and how we are failing our own discipline. It also explains why this is an issue for criminology students and criminological theorists and how they may use the book. It also explains how and why each chapter is set out.

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Warr, J. (2016). Introduction. In: An Introduction to Criminological Theory and the Problem of Causation. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47446-5_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47446-5_1

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47445-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47446-5

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

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