El humor como estrategia de cortesía positiva en De oratore, 2. 216-90

in spite of their unquestionable elements of idealization, critics have pointed out the importance of de oratore as a source for the study of the roman aristocracy's social practices. the analysis of one of the basic resources of "positive courtesy" - i.e. humor - in the excursus de ridiculis shows that it is presented as a powerful catalyst for social intercourse. as long as it fits to some sort of "laughable ethics", humor would be a key factor in creating solidarity among elite members, whose relationships present, as a rule, a strong agonistic slant.