ENLIGHTENMENT AND CESARE BECCARIA WEBQUEST & PROJECT Justice, Reason, and the Reform of Criminal LawESSENTIAL QUESTION How did Cesare Beccaria’s ideas transform views about crime, punishment, and justice during the Enlightenment? BACKGROUNDDuring the Enlightenment, many philosophers believed that reason and rational thinking could improve society. Instead of relying solely on tradition or authority, Enlightenment thinkers examined institutions such as government, education, religion, and law to