In Aristophanes clouds, the playwright warns against abandoning traditional values for the new way of thinking promoted by philosophers like Socrates. The play humorously shows how Strepsiades, desperate to escape debt, turns to Socrates school to learn clever arguments, even teaching his son to outsmart others. However, this new wisdom only leads to chaos, ending with Strepsiades burning down the school as a symbol of rejecting these corrupt ideas. though this, Aristophanes criticize the rise of sophistry and warns that clever talk without morality can destroy both families and society. His message reflects the danger of losing tradition and reason in pursuit of empty intellectualism.

One part that really stood out is in Section 6, when Strepsiades fully embraces Socrates’ teachings and the Clouds, using clever arguments to justify lying and shirking responsibility. It was surprising to see him completely abandon traditional morality in favor of intellectual trickery. I think Aristophanes is critiquing the sophists and new education in Athens, suggesting that philosophy and clever reasoning, without ethical grounding, can corrupt ordinary people. The play seems to warn that valuing cleverness over virtue leads to chaos and moral decay. I’d like to learn more about how contemporary audiences reacted—did they see this as a serious cautionary tale or mostly as a source of humor?

I was surprised about Pheidippides behavior towards his father as I didn't expect him to use the skills he just acquired from the Thinkery to attack his father. While doing so, he also managed to justify it as well. It seems Strepsiades' plan to get rid of the debtors using his son and Socrates' teaching has backfired. I think this story can indicate how modern teachings that attacks traditional values can always lead to the destruction of the youth since attacking your parents is seen as disgraceful and immoral. With this thinking, Strepsiades decides to burn the Thinkery down as the spreading of such teachings has corrupted his son's mind. Aristophanes uses Socrates' name as to brand him as someone who teaches damaging knowledge and so Athens can realize the downfall of their society starts with those who attacks their traditional roots.

In the final section of Clouds, the passage that stuck out the most to me was the decision Strepsaides made to burn down the thinkery and the moments he asks the gods for forgiveness deserting them, particularly Hermes. This passage in the play demonstrates Aristophanes’ perspective: that the new way of thinking including the abandonment of tradition would lead to disaster in Athens for it’s citizens. His argument was that although the new way of thinking was full of allure at first glance, it would not lead to a good end for those who followed it. This also reflects Aristophanes’ view against Sophism and his call to Athens to not abandon tradition. I would like to find out if at any point during his life, Aristophanes changed his stance and opinions on the sophists and on Socrates despite his opposing views towards Sophism. 

In Aristophanes' Clouds, Aristophanes constantly warns people about newer thinkers such as Socrates, as well as the dad teaching his son to speak in a smart way, as well as telling him that it's okay to hit the dad. This is just a plain example as to how these new ideas can hinder good behavior and can sever or worsen family ties, as we can see the play ending with the dad burning down Socrates' school as a message to stop these bad ideas from being spread.

A part that stood out to me in these last parts of clouds is the debate between Just and Unjust Argument. What jumped out to me is how despite being named Unjust Argument, its arguments are actually pretty valid sometimes. Unjust arguments always contained more critical thinking while Just argument just kind of went on already established beliefs. What it reminds me of is how people who are conservatives stand on a lot of older beliefs. They don't even try to consider other factors of life. What I want to know is if there are people who recognized and enjoyed this secretly in society.

When Strepsiades burns down the thinkery it kind of confused me because he used violence to tear it down. He skipped the middle steps and removed the Thinkery and I feel like this kind of act is Aristophanes way of saying that the only way to rid a nation of corruption so deep is to use force and destroy the corruption along with everything that came from it. In addition to this, it feels that such a violent act is meant to contrast with the rest of the play as a way to warn the people of Athens of what could happen if they don't regain their morals.

In the final sections of Clouds, what stood out to me most was when Strepsiades, realizing how his obsession with clever arguments and avoiding his debts ruined his family, burns down Socrates’ Thinkery. That moment really surprised me because it showed how his excitement for “new learning” completely turned into anger and regret. I think Aristophanes was trying to show how dangerous it can be when people use philosophy or intellect for selfish reasons instead of genuine understanding. It also felt like a warning about how Athens itself was losing its moral direction by valuing cleverness over honesty. I’d like to learn more about how audiences in ancient Athens reacted to this ending and whether they saw it as a criticism of Socrates himself or more as a comment on Athenian society at the time.

A detail that stood out to me was Just argument’s concession to Unjust Argument that Athenians are already corrupted. I expected that Unjust Argument would win the debate through some intellectual arguments, but he instead wins via emotionally appealing to the audience and attacks. This is very similar to how certain political figures will convince people to agree with their sides via emotional appeal, as people will view them as more authentic and are less likely to think about the logic behind their argument. I think Aristophanes was trying to communicate that Athenians are already corrupted and morally bankrupt, and that the only way to get through to them is via emotional means. I’d like to learn about how the audience reacted to Unjust and Just argument’s debate when it was first performed.

Pheidippides wanting to hit his father Strepsiades was the moment that surprised me the most. This is because the teachings of the Thinkery were putting the idea that that sort of behavior is acceptable into his head. I think the author wanted to inform people to not believe every little thing that philosophers like Socrates at the time were promoting and that it is necessary to think for yourself as well. I would like to find out whether or not this sentiment was shared among the Athenians.

One detail that reached out to me was when Strepsiades burned everything down including the Thinkery as a sign of aggression. He wanted people to forget about Socrates's beliefs and ignore the rules of free thinking. Aristophanes could have been trying to explain how judgement is was to be a free thinker because it clashed with state morals. Socrates was the oddity in over his head because of his beliefs and his school. Athens has a strong since of power within the community and strength within the people. Anybody who's different is considered a threat to established laws.

The end of Clouds shows Aristophanes is warning against the new thinkers like Socrates. When the main character's son learns their clever arguments he uses them to justify beating his own father This shocking outcome is Aristophanes way of saying this new philosophy is morally corrupt and destroys traditional family values. The play ends with the father burning down Socrates school, the Thinkery a violent message that these dangerous ideas must be forcefully removed from society.