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his settings is both foolish and irresponsible.
On the other hand, the Clouds also serves as a warning to the city itself.
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The problems
that Strepsiades faces are not unique to him alone. The Clouds seems to recommend a rather
skeptical attitude toward philosophy, especially as it concerns the education of the city’s youth.
The city must take better measures to contain philosophy, either by reminding it of its political
orientation, and hence asking it to remember its political obligations, or by exiling it and
reinforcing its more traditional education. Given what we have seen transpire in the Clouds,
especially the ease with which Just speech was defeated by Unjust speech, the latter option does
not offer great promise. Because Just speech is in need of support, Aristophanes does not eschew
philosophy. Quite the opposite, he seems to support it, so long as it remembers, or can be
compelled to remember, who and what it is, which includes where it is and what it must
presuppose before it can prosper.
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Aristophanes’ warning to the city is then similar to his
warning to Socrates: be mindful of who you are and what you seek, and be aware that by
attempting to escape the ever-present problems of politics you are not seduced into those means
that will ultimately be your undoing.
Thus, despite what at first glance appeared to be an attack on Socrates, Aristophanes’
comedy has shown itself to have very significant connections to Socrates and his philosophizing.
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One is reminded again of the rather ominous language that Aristophanes employs
during the first parabasis when he speaks to the audience itself. If this part was written after the
initial production, then it, read in conjunction with the outcome of the play, serves as bookend
warnings for Strepsiades’ experience with Socrates.
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One might even goes so far as to say that Aristophanes’ warning to Socrates might
include a request to come to the aid of justice. Such a request would serve the purposes of both
curbing Socrates’ behavior and defending justice.
Convention