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Cui bono?

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Cui bono? (Classical Latin: [kui̯ ˈbɔnoː]), in English "to whom is it a benefit?", is a Latin phrase about identifying crime suspects. It depends on the fact that crimes are often committed to benefit their perpetrators; especially financially.

Usage

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The phrase is a double dative construction. It can also be rendered as cui prodest? ("whom does it profit?") and ad cuius bonum? ("for whose good?").

Background

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Cicero himself used the expression Cui bono in his 'Second Philippic', once again invoking Cassius as the source: "... adopt that maxim of Cassius: To whose advantage was it?"[2]

American sociologist Peter Blau has used the concept of cui bono to differentiate organizations depending on who has primarily benefited: owners; members; specific others; or the general society.[3]

See also

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General:

References

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  1. ^ Cicero, Pro Roscio Amerino, (30).84
  2. ^ Cicero, Philippics, 2.(14).35
  3. ^ Blau, Peter (1962): 'Formal Organizations: A Comparative Approach'.