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. The only other surviving portrayals of Socrates were written after Socrates' death at age 70. They portrayed Socrates as having a religious dimension and a strong focus on ethical issues. 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?
A: Socrates had an influence on many subsequent philosophers who were primarily concerned with natural science.
B: Socrates was a much more controversial figure in the years before his death than he was in his mid-forties.
C: Socrates' philosophical views and interests changed sometime after his mid-forties.
D: Aristophanes' portrayal of Socrates in The Clouds was unflattering, whereas the other portrayals were very flattering.
Choose A, B, C or D as your solution.
C