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A Word from the Editor.

At the crossroads of psychology, criminology, and moral philosophy lies a provocative question: Are criminals born or made? In The Hereditary Nature of Crime, James Bruce Thomson boldly steps into this fraught terrain with a singular thesis—crime, like a congenital disease, is passed down through families, entrenched in both body and mind. Written during a period when the boundaries between science and pseudoscience blurred, Thomson’s essay remains a striking artifact of intellectual history, challenging readers to reconsider the roots of criminal behavior.

With an eye sharpened by years of observing the criminal underworld, Thomson presents his argument with remarkable originality. He paints a vivid portrait of a “criminal class,” not as an abstract social construct, but as a distinct population defined by peculiar physical traits, cognitive impairments, and a grim inheritance of moral degeneracy. His vivid accounts—families marked by generations of theft, deception, and even murder—reveal a writer determined to provoke as much as to persuade.

What sets Thomson apart from his contemporaries is his insistence that crime is not simply an act but a condition. By linking criminality to hereditary diseases like insanity and epilepsy, he reframes it as a psychological ailment demanding scientific scrutiny. Though Thomson’s deterministic stance raises questions about free will and societal responsibility, his readiness to confront the uncomfortable interplay of biology and morality was, and remains, audacious.

Today, we can critique Thomson’s conclusions while admiring his intellectual courage. His essay serves as both a historical document and a philosophical provocation—a reminder of how deeply we wrestle with the origins of human behavior. For readers seeking to understand the genealogy of criminological thought, The Hereditary Nature of Crime offers a fascinating glimpse into a world where science, sociology, and prejudice collided to shape ideas about justice and reform.

James Bruce Thomson’s work will inspire debate, discomfort, and perhaps a deeper appreciation for the complexities of human nature. Whether you are drawn to its contentious claims or repelled by its implications, this essay demands engagement—and promises to leave an indelible mark.