The Clouds by Aristophanes Essay - 1678 Words

The Clouds by Aristophanes - Relevant in Todays World The Clouds by Aristophanes, is a play centrally concerned with education. Aristophanes employs satire to illustrate his conservative beliefs. It is intended to show readers that in the tendency to philosophical subtleties lies the neglection of the real needs of the Athenians. According to Aristophanes, philosophical speculation only acts to shake the established foundations of accepted religion, gods, and ideals of morality. Specifically, as it was even discused in The Apology, Aristophanes believed that philosophical attitudes held by the Sophists enabled those who held them to convince others of wrong or weaker beliefs simply by sounding as if they knew what†¦show more content†¦In doing some background research into why this would be, I discovered that Aristophanes religious undertones could stem from the fact that Athenians were trying to harmonize science and religion. When new scientific theories were starting to surface and be questioned, many people couldnt even consider them without sounding as if they were committing treason against the state. Aristophanes turns to religion in order to remind his audience that both religion and science have to be equally open to questions, critique, and even in Aristophanes case, satire. This suggestion, that certain things need to be equally suceptable to to critique and questions can also be seen through the way that Aristophanes suggests there is both a problem with the accepted model of a well-rounded education, and the newer model brought about by such philopophers as the Sophists. Aristophanes saw the danger in not questioning an accepted theory or belief. Despite the fact I agree with Johnson in that Aristophanes may be a staunch defender of old values, Aristophanes saw that if something widely accepted was left unquestioned for too long, it would become idle. Basically, an idea that I believe should be applied more in the world we live in today -- a traditionally accepted theoryShow MoreRelatedApology And Aristophanes The Clouds982 Words   |  4 Pagesof classical works, they raise questions about the veracity of his quoted works. There are some works which shed a positive light on the scholar while others convey the contrary. One such comparison is that of Plato’s book, Apology and Aristophanes’ play The Clouds. Throughout both masterpieces there are connotations that they both disagreed and presumably misrepresented Socrates’ methods, beliefs and overall views. Misrepresenting Socrates has inevitably created an only partial representation ofRead MoreHow Xenophon’s Oeconomicus is a Response to Aristophanes’ Clouds1043 Words   |  5 PagesA significant body of work regarding how Xenophon’s Oeconomicus is a response to Aristophanes’ Clouds has been written in the last few decades, beginning with Leo Strauss’s enigmatic book on the dialogue. And while great consideration has gone into the pronounced relationship between these two works, as well as its relation to Xenophon’s treatises on the arts and his Hiero, the fertile Oeconomicus has many more fruits to yield for us regarding a greater understanding of the coherence of the dialogueRead MoreAristophanes Clouds Is A Social Commentary On The Nature Of Justice853 Words   |  4 PagesAristophanes’ Clouds is a social commentary on the nature of justice as it pertains to the philosophic life within the city- disguised as a crude theatrical comedy. The protagonist Strepsiades is overcome by debt due to his son Pheidippides’ obsession with horsemanship, and Strepsiades seeks the help of local philosopher Socrates in order to learn the art of deceptive speaking so that he may trick his creditors and not â€Å"give anyone back even an obol of those debts† (120). 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Aristophanes depicts two different Greek ideologies clashing together causing an ideological shift within Athens. This shift is shown through the tension between different traditions, humans falsely redefining cosmic roles, and reconciliation of previous beliefs. These conflictsRead MoreAristophanes’ Clouds a Satyr Play Written in 419 BCE1161 Words   |  5 PagesAristophanes’ Clouds, if read hastily, can be interpreted as a mindless satyr play written in 419 BCE. Yet the chorus warns the reader not to expect the play to have farcical ploys like â€Å"a hanging phallus stitched on† the actors to evoke a laugh, but to take note of underlying seriousness as â€Å"she [the play] comes in trusting only her words† (Clouds 538-44). Even if the play does use some low devices, the play’s message is sophisticated and can be read as a warning to Socrates. Aristophanes isRead MoreSocrates s View On Plato s The And Aristophanes s The Clouds1371 Words   |  6 Pagesquestions to approach philosophical truths. The method is presented in both Plato’s the Euthyphro and Aristophanes’s the Clouds. However, Socrates’s personal image and characteristics, as well as the nature of his questioning differ a lot in these two works. While the Euthyphro presents a philosopher king guiding the less wise people in discovery of truths, Socrates in the Clouds has little interest in either exploring the ethical truth or helping others get out of â€Å"Plato’s cave†. Instead, he is portrayedRead MoreIs Clouds By Aristophanes : The Corrupt Nature Of Individuals Who Try And Remake Laws1353 Words   |  6 Pagesdirect fashion. With the problematic lifestyle of Strepsiades and Pheidippides, Aristophanes addresses how the injustice of the democratic system progressively moving tow ards a system of oligopoly. Similarly, aristocrats are able to control society by molding the political agenda to fit their needs, intellectuals use rhetorical skills to get away with their bidding. In this essay I will argue that Clouds by Aristophanes captures the corrupt nature of individuals who try and remake laws or customs forRead MoreEssay Clouds vs. The Apology1649 Words   |  7 Pages Clouds vs. The Apology In Aristophanes Clouds and in Platos Apology we see extensive fictional representations of the historical figure, Socrates, who left us no literary works under his own name. When comparing these two representations, readers often assume, as a result of the nature of the comedic genre, that Aristophanes portrayal of Socrates is exaggerated and fallacious. On the other hand, Platos account is often taken more seriously as a result of the philosophical genre and theRead MoreAristophanes Making Fun of Socrates in His Plays: An Analysis1039 Words   |  5 Pagesunderstand current political situation we have to try to read and recognize early writings on political philosophy, Some of the earlier works by Plato called The Republic, in the piece there are conversations between characters Socrates and Glaucon, Aristophanes, Adeimantus where they try and explain ideas and views of justice and what a truly just man and/or just state would appear How we come to the decisions as human beings th at would be for the greater good of a man and/or state. One conversation