Okay, yes, Socrates is a philosopher, but a big part of his philosophy is figuring out the best way to argue a point to get what you want. Sure, you could argue his approach is more about persuasion than trying to communicate, but it still involves heavy attention to language and its power.
Among other things, Socrates teaches his pupils the Worse Argument, which is rhetoric so powerful that it can make things that are morally wrong appear correct—you know, like getting out of debts that you've racked up.
You've probably heard it said that language is power, and that's definitely true here... unfortunately, a lot of the focus in The Clouds is on how that power can be used for evil.
Questions About Language and Communication
- Is rhetoric portrayed as inherently evil? Or is the problem simply that Socrates and his associates are using it for evil purposes?
- Do you find it contradictory and/or ironic that rhetoric is being critiqued via a work of fiction (which has persuasive speeches to the audience sprinkled in)? How are language and art portrayed overall in the play?
- Do the characters communicate well overall? Why or why not, and why is that important?
- What do you make of the way Socrates communicates with others? How does that shape your opinion of him?
Chew on This
Rhetoric is not inherently evil; Socrates just uses it in evil ways. If you use rhetoric toward moral stuff, it's moral.
Rhetoric is inherently immoral, because it values the strength of the argument rather than a moral code.