Saruman's mind was broken directly by the enemy of course, but it came about from him using the highest technology that existed in that world, the ancient Palantir or 'seeing stones' of the Valinor.<p>In Saruman's past deeds there is heroism and selflessness and traces of arrogance, but NO jerkiness as the article conveniently uses to polarize the wizards. If not for his vulnerability in using the seeing stone in secret (which Tolkien casts as a weakness of arrogance, considering the risk), Saruman may have kept to his science and not been morally swayed. The balance of power of Middle Earth would have been quite different.<p>I was curious as a teenager that Tolkien presented some casual grading of wizards, with Saruman being the 'highest' of the order and Radagast occupying the 'lowest' position. A later reading indicated that this was likely due to their own desire to administrate and preside. Sauruman most of all, Gandalf not so much but in need, and Radagast not at all. Technicians all with their own specialties but Saruman alone desired to be an administrator.<p>If there is a parallel to the seeing stones in modern times it might be addiction to television or 'screen time' to the extent where it dulls social skills and mental acuity.