Handling of Facts and Forensic Tactics in Cicero’s Defence Speeches by Tamás Nótári

Author:Tamás, Nótári [Tamás, Nótári]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Schenk Verlag
Published: 2014-09-10T16:00:00+00:00

It is worth analysing the part of the speech, which can be considered mere excursus having an end in itself, that contains Cicero’s political creed and the most precise definition of optimates’ role taken and obligations assumed in public life in Corpus Ciceronianum . [1294] The paradigmatic nature of Sestius’s case enabled the orator to frame guidelines in the philosophy of the state that could get to more people through the statement of the defence as means of mediation than in theoretical reasoning, philosophical works. [1295] What might be superficially considered mere excursus is a carefully thought-over and efficiently built argument: the definition of the concept of optimates is followed by enumeration of the most important tasks of the State, and then, by determining the goals of persons who shape public life, the significance of otium and dignitas , the orator connects the seemingly extended theoretical train of thoughts again with the stream of the oration.

To respond to the disparaging remark made by the prosecutor on optimates , he develops his own optimata definition by interpretatio extensiva setting out from the optimates —populares opposition. The optimates and populares , as a matter of fact, did not mean party affiliations, not even groups orienting themselves in terms of some sort of political/public life principles/slogans but primarily groups of given politicians who achieved their goals relying on the senate (optimates) and the popular assembly (populares) respectively—in many cases the distinction covered difference in political style rather than content. [1296] According to Cicero, optimates are those who—contrary to populares —do not seek applause and approval of the masses but try to earn acknowledgement of all decent citizens (optimus quisque) . [1297]

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