Logical Reasoning

PT126 · S3 · Q1 Aristophanes' play The Clouds

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Aristophanes' play The Clouds, which was written when the philosopher Socrates was in his mid-forties, portrays Socrates as an atheistic philosopher primarily concerned with issues in natural science.

Apparent Paradox

Aristophanes’ portrayal of Socrates (written when Socrates was in his mid-forties) presents an atheistic philosopher primarily concerned with issues in natural science.

Other surviving portrayals of Socrates, written after his death at age 70, portray Socrates as having a religious dimension and a strong focus on ethical issues.

Evaluate

How could the portrayals of Socrates be so different. There are many ways to explain this difference. First, it could be that Socrates shifted over time from someone who matched Aristophanes’s portrayal to someone who matched the other surviving portrayals. Second, it could be that one of the portrayals is inaccurate.

1.

Which one of the following, if true, would most help to resolve the apparent discrepancy between Aristophanes' portrayal of Socrates and the other surviving portrayals?

  1. Aristophanes' portrayal of Socrates in

    Out of Scope

    Whether or not a portrayal is flattering has no bearing on whether it was accurate or why the two accounts differed with respect to Socrates philosophical views and interests.

    1% picked this

  2. Correct

    Socrates' philosophical views and interests

    Why this is right

    This describes the first of the two predicted explanations.

    Skill tested: Paradox · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    94% picked this

  3. Most of the philosophers who

    Out of Scope

    This might explain why Socrates was interested in natural science earlier in his life, but it does not explain the later portrayals of Socrates.

    2% picked this

  4. Socrates was a much more

    Wrong Discrepancy

    If the portrayals of Socrates in his mid-forties were all similar, while the portrayals later in his life were divergent, this might explain such a distinction.

    2% picked this

  5. Socrates had an influence on

    Out of Scope

    Socrates’ influence on subsequent philosophers does not explain the divergent portrayals of his philosophical views and interests.

    1% picked this

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