Final answer:
Cesare Beccaria's 'On Crimes and Punishments' was a foundational critique of capital punishment, influencing Enlightenment thought and leading to reforms in the criminal justice system, including the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Written by Cesare Beccaria, Dei delitti e delle pene (translated as On Crimes and Punishments) presents one of the earliest, sustained critiques of the use of capital punishment. Beccaria's work had a significant influence on Enlightenment thought and on the development of modern criminal justice systems. It contributed to a growing movement toward the abolition of the death penalty and led to reforms that reduced the number of capital crimes.
The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, drawing from Enlightenment principles, includes a prohibition against 'cruel and unusual punishments', reflecting the nation's commitment to humane treatment within the justice system. However, the application and interpretation of the Eighth Amendment have been contested over time, as the Supreme Court has made various rulings on what constitutes 'cruel and unusual punishment.'