Gibbon's Critique of the Roman Empire and the Concept of Virtue

Flashcards covering Gibbon's historical analysis of the Roman Empire's decline, focusing on the concept of 'virtu' or public spirit, its necessity for societal health, and the factors leading to its suppression.

Antoine Age (Gibbon's view)

An age of peace and prosperity, which nonetheless contained the 'seeds of its decay' within the imperial system's structure.

Seeds of Decay (Roman Empire)

The inherent structure of the centralized Roman imperial system, which excluded the 'vitalizing principle' of public spirit.

Vitalizing Principle (Roman Society)

Public spirit, or 'virtu' as Machiavelli called it, considered necessary for the health of society, but excluded by the centralized Roman Empire.

Machiavelli

An early modern political theorist who used the term 'virtu' to describe public spirit.

Public Virtue (Gibbon's definition)

Also called patriotism, it is derived from a strong sense of one's own interest in the preservation and prosperity of the free government of which one is a member.

Contribution of Classical Antiquity (to Gibbon)

The animating principle of 'public virtue,' expressed in active participation in public life.

Extinction of Public Virtue

Occurred in imperial times within the Roman Empire, leading to its transfer (to Machiavelli) to the 'barbarian' successor-states in Western Europe.

Constantinople vs. Athens (Gibbon's comparison)

Constantinople, despite greater opulence and population in its decay, lacked Athenian citizens who were freemen asserting liberty and exercising independent votes, unlike Athens at its peak.

Byzantine Empire Subjects (Gibbon's view)

Presented a 'dead uniformity of abject vices,' lacking the vigorous independent spirit found in ancient Athens.

Byzantium

A historical period where Gibbon quickened his pace because he found no evidence of Machiavelli's virtu, transferring his interest to the barbarians instead.

Birth and Nourishment of Virtue

Depends upon the discovery, cultivation, and systematic teaching of the natural dignity and equal rights of man.

Montesquieu's Argument

Man is conditioned by his environment and the 'spirit' of his institutions.

Dangers to Virtue's Survival

Suppression and extinction by orthodoxy and interested power, or illiberal successors, as ideas of human dignity are not native everywhere and can be inconvenient to rulers.

Conditions for Virtue's Assured Survival

A continuing tradition of freedom, a plural society, division of power between separate authorities, independent competing states, independent authorities within particular states, and economic and intellectual competition.

Monopoly of Power (Roman Empire)

Exercised completely by the emperor, which stifled freedom and inevitably all forms of progress.

Virtue (Gibbon's Perspective)

Not merely a private possession like the Stoics believed, but an essential active principle that depends on, demands, and creates freedom.

Virtue's Impact on Progress

Nourishes science and forwards material progress, in addition to its role in fostering freedom.

Enemies of Virtue

Monopoly of any kind: monopoly of power, monopoly of wealth, monopoly of knowledge, or monopoly of alleged access to truth.

Centralized Imperial Bureaucracy

An impediment to virtue, whose structure 'undoubtedly checked the activity and progress of the human mind'.

Human Motive Force of Progress (to Gibbon)

Public spirit and public service, nourished by a plural, mobile society.

Society Nourishing Public Spirit

A plural, mobile society, which public spirit in turn created and preserved (e.g., city-states of Greece, Republic of Rome).

Origin of Ideas (Preservation of Public Spirit)

Born from the city-states of Greece and the Republic of Rome, not from the Roman Empire.

Decline of Public Virtue and Progress (Roman Empire)

Caused by the centralization, immobility, and monopoly of the Roman Empire, which destroyed pluralism and stifled ideas.

Fall of the Western Empire (Gibbon's Cause)

Rotted from within by an inert, top-heavy political structure and the decline of public virtue, rather than being primarily destroyed by 'innocent barbarians'.