In 399 BC, Socrates was executed by a court in the city of Athens on the charges of impiety to the gods as well as corruption of the youth. The court was greatly influenced by Clouds, written by the Greek comedy writer Aristophanes. Socrates was described with all the characteristics of a sophist, and was vilified assomeone who taught the skills necessary to manipulate language for a fee. In contrast, Plato depicts Socrates as a wise man practicing philosophy, searching for the truth and discussing the definitions of ideas such as justice and virtue. Although Socrates was put to death by the Athenian court, Plato’s dialogues contain evidence that suggests that he was innocent. I shall argue that Aristophanes’ description of Socrates is based
