Poetry and Philosophy

This study argues that Aristophanes Clouds offers a
serious critique of Socrates and a coherent two part
attack on Socratic philosophy. The first prong of
the attack, that Socrates was a natural philosopher,
provides the basis for the second prong, the
rhetorical charge that Socrates makes the weaker
argument the stronger. This rhetorical and
scientific understanding of philosophy allows
Aristophanes to argue that Socrates undermines the
family, traditional religion and morality, Athenian
custom, and political health more generally.
Plato s Republic is used as the counterpoint to
Aristophanes charges, in which Socrates argues that
poetry does not contribute to the correct
understanding of the gods or human excellence.
Thus, poetry s pedagogy creates flawed human beings,
while misunderstanding what is necessary for good
citizenship and political health more generally.
The final part of the study examines the two notions
of political health; the relative rank order of
poetry, philosophy, and politics; and the
implications of this study for modern politics.

Autorentext

Mischa Ann Beckett, Ph.D.: Studied political theory at Boston College. Lecturer at Simmons College, Boston.

Klappentext

This study argues that Aristophanes' Clouds offers a serious critique of Socrates and a coherent two part attack on Socratic philosophy. The first prong of the attack, that Socrates was a natural philosopher, provides the basis for the second prong, the rhetorical charge that Socrates makes the weaker argument the stronger. This rhetorical and scientific understanding of philosophy allows Aristophanes to argue that Socrates undermines the family, traditional religion and morality, Athenian custom, and political health more generally. Plato's Republic is used as the counterpoint to Aristophanes' charges, in which Socrates argues that poetry does not contribute to the correct understanding of the gods or human excellence. Thus, poetry's pedagogy creates flawed human beings, while misunderstanding what is necessary for good citizenship and political health more generally. The final part of the study examines the two notions of political health; the relative rank order of poetry, philosophy, and politics; and the implications of this study for modern politics.