Riso e sorriso e altri saggi sulla nonviolenza nella Grecia antica

Is nonviolence a specificity of oriental culture? The book explores the presence, in ancient Greece, of forms of thought and actions that can be brought back to the idea of nonviolent conflict management. It identifies the role that laughter and smile can play in the resolution of interpersonal contrasts; it illustrates the advice of ‘work on oneself’ as well as on the other, given by ancient philosophers; it focuses on some rules to combat violence without resorting to violence; it presents female mediation practices and identifies various forms of diplomacy, both from above and from below; at least it shows the effective dynamics in view of the reconciliation between adversaries in cases of civil war as well of interpoleic warfare.