In a breakthrough initiative, ancient philosophers’ wisdom is being used to rehabilitate prisoners in modern prisons, offering a new approach to reducing reoffending rates.
Ancient Wisdom in Modern Prisons: A New Approach to Rehabilitation
In a break from the traditional curriculum offered in prisons, a small number of inmates are being given the opportunity to learn life skills from Aristotle and his work on ethics and rhetoric, which provide a set of tools for prisoners seeking to make a new start. ‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’
The Power of Ancient Philosophy in Contemporary Life
Aristotle‘s ethics encourage learners to consider what it means to be happy, whether there is any point in being a good person, and how to cultivate friendships. His rhetoric gives learners knowledge of how to communicate effectively, including how to negotiate, disagree agreeably, listen actively, and reason critically. ‘The whole is more than the sum of its parts.’ These skills are particularly valuable to prisoners, as they offer something additional to and different from standard courses such as literacy, numeracy, tiling, and decorating.
Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is a comprehensive guide to living a virtuous life.
The concept of eudaimonia, or happiness, is central to his philosophy.
Aristotle believed that individuals should strive for a balance between reason and emotion, as well as between individualism and social responsibility.
His ideas on virtues, such as courage and justice, are considered essential for achieving a good life.
In Book II, Aristotle discusses the importance of habituation in developing character traits.
A New Approach to Rehabilitation
The teaching team, led by two classics professors from Durham University and supported by the prison education charity Novus, has completed courses in two men’s prisons: Swinfen Hall and HMP Deerbolt. Inmates in these prisons are often serving long sentences for serious offenses, including life imprisonment. The aim is to attract sufficient funding to roll out the programme much more widely.
The feedback from those who took part showed how well they had learned their lessons and how effectively they were able to use them in their own lives. One participant reported that the rhetoric session helped them plan and structure statements for their legal case, resulting in fewer confrontations on the wing. Others described a new reflectiveness in themselves, with one stating that Aristotle‘s ideas had led to a newfound understanding of the relationship between happiness and being a good person.
The Potential Impact
The project has the potential to reduce reoffending rates, as engaging with education is proven to decrease recidivism by 7.5 percentage points. According to Ministry of Justice data, reoffending costs the economy £18bn every year. By providing prisoners with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive after release, this programme could have a significant impact on reducing crime rates.
Rehabilitation is a treatment approach aimed at restoring an individual's physical, emotional, and social functioning.
It involves a comprehensive plan tailored to the person's specific needs, goals, and abilities.
Rehabilitation can be applied in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, and workplaces.
The process typically includes 'assessment' , goal-setting, intervention, and follow-up phases.
Effective rehabilitation requires collaboration between healthcare professionals, caregivers, and the individual themselves.
Statistics show that rehabilitation programs can significantly improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses.
The appetite among inmates for this type of education is clear, with one prisoner stating that anything would be more interesting than daytime TV. The teaching team has reported that prisoners are ‘thirsting for stimulation’ and eager to learn about ancient philosophy. With the right support and funding, this programme could become a game-changer in the rehabilitation of prisoners and the reduction of reoffending rates.
Prisons often harbor a population with unmet educational needs.
Studies show that approximately 70% of inmates have not completed high school, and many lack basic literacy skills.
This thirst for knowledge is driven by the desire to improve oneself, acquire job skills, and break the cycle of recidivism.
Educational programs in prisons aim to address this gap, providing access to vocational training, GED courses, and college degree programs.
By satiating this thirst, prisoners can develop essential life skills, increasing their chances of successful reintegration into society.
- theguardian.com | Classicists take ‘ancient philosophical wisdom’ into English jails
