Inside the pages of the Greek poet Aristophanes’ Clouds, the reader will find a drastically different portrayal of the philosopher Socrates than one would inside the pages of the Republic. In the play, Socrates is completely unaware of his surroundings, and is able to justify purposely making just actions stronger than just actions. The main character, Strepsiades, initially seeks the help of Socrates because he knows Socrates will provide him with the skills to avoid paying back his debts to the city. Even though Plato’s Socrates in The Republic would probably not agree, the philosophic life described in books V-VI of The Republic resembles the philosophic life demonstrated by Aristophanes’ Socrates in the Clouds.
According to Aristophanes in the comedy Clouds, the philosopher’s way of life is merely to acquire as much…
In book V, Socrates says that philosophers are “insatiable in their approach to learning” (475c). Adeimantus continues and says that those who are brought up in the philosophical life “become quite queer, not to say completely vicious” (487d), and the men in Aristophanes’ Thinkery are quite queer indeed. Socrates also presents the philosopher in the image of the “Ship’s Captain”, in which the philosopher will not rule unless he is asked (488a). Plato and Aristophanes both would most likely agree that the philosopher seeks out knowledge in all things, but they do not seem to agree whether that is a good thing or not. Socrates in The Republic seems to want what is best for the city politically, which he believes would be the philosopher-king. Aristophanes uses Socrates’ lack of political involvement to show that what is best for the city is to follow ancient custom and education in order to continue the traditions of the…
