What do the histories of Sallust show about corruption?

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Gordon believed that the histories of Sallust show the corruption of the Roman state, particularly in the Roman seats of justice and the oppression in the provinces, as well as the general public corruption, especially among the Romans. [1]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Gordon believed that Sallust's histories show significant public corruption, particularly among the great men of Rome who should have been the most virtuous. He argues that this corruption had fatal effects, especially during the Jugurthine War. [2]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Gordon believed that those who accuse others of corruption while being themselves corrupt is a dangerous and hypocritical behavior, as shown through examples from Sallust's histories. He argues that such individuals, like Marius and Catiline, used accusations of corruption to gain popularity while engaging in corrupt and destructive actions themselves. (key quote above) [3]
• BELIEF (undated): Thomas Gordon believed that public corruption, as exemplified in Roman history, tends to spread and become normalized, leading to the loss of true liberty and the eventual downfall of the state. He argued that corruption is dangerous, often disguised as reform or liberty, and that it is difficult to prevent when the means for corruption are present. "The fatal Tendency of public Corruption. The Public sometimes served by encouraging private Corruption. Other Means of Corruption, beside that of Money. Corruption sometimes practised by such who rail at it; in some Instances, by good Men, who hate it." [4]

What cuts against it

• ACTION (undated): Thomas Gordon wrote that "It is amazing that this obscurity of his should never be mentioned by any of the Antients who mention him," [5] suggesting that he may have acknowledged some limitations or complexities in Sallust's writing that could be seen as cutting against his otherwise critical view of Sallust's portrayal of corruption. [5]

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. Thomas Gordon believed that Sallust's histories show the corruption of the Roman state, particularly in the Roman seats of justice and the oppression in the provinces. [1]

2. He argued that this corruption was especially evident among the great men of Rome who should have been the most virtuous, and that it had fatal effects, especially during the Jugurthine War. [2]

3. Gordon also believed that those who accuse others of corruption while being themselves corrupt is a dangerous and hypocritical behavior, as shown through examples from Sallust's histories. [3]

4. He argued that public corruption tends to spread and become normalized, leading to the loss of true liberty and the eventual downfall of the state. [4]

5. Gordon's view is that what appears to be corruption may not be corruption, depending on the characters and designs of the individuals involved. [6]

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: DIRECT

Extrapolation: The histories of Sallust, according to Thomas Gordon, show the corruption of the Roman state, particularly in the Roman seats of justice and the oppression in the provinces, as well as the general public corruption, especially among the Romans. Gordon believed that Sallust's histories show significant public corruption, particularly among the great men of Rome who should have been the most virtuous, and that this corruption had fatal effects, especially during the Jugurthine War. He also believed that those who accuse others of corruption while being themselves corrupt is a dangerous and hypocritical behavior, as shown through examples from Sallust's histories. Gordon argued that public corruption tends to spread and become normalized, leading to the loss of true liberty and the eventual downfall of the state.

Competing readings: There is no competing reading in the record that directly contradicts Gordon's view on the histories of Sallust and corruption.

Confidence: High, as the record directly supports Gordon's views on the histories of Sallust and corruption.