Final answer:
The myth of Icarus and his flight does not depict shepherds and plowmen's thoughts on his soaring height, leaving their opinions to interpretation. Aristotle's ideals on Greek heroes and Socrates's values on wisdom provide contrasting potential perspectives on how Icarus might be judged by a contemporaneous audience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the characters in the Greek myth of Icarus and their perceptions of his actions. The narrative of Icarus flying too close to the sun is not elaborated upon from the perspective of shepherds and plowmen within the classical texts, and consequently, their thoughts are not directly recorded in the myth. Thus, none of the choices a) arrogant, b) leader, c) jokester, or d) good son can be confirmed as their viewpoint on Icarus's actions. Instead, various interpretations of the myth could lead to different analyses, such as questions of pride, the pursuit of knowledge, or respect for authority.
When analyzing the response of shepherds and plowmen to Icarus's flight, ancient Greek philosophy and mythology can give insight into societal values and perspectives. For instance, according to Aristotle, a Greek hero is held to a high standard by society, and the common people would look up to such figures, especially when they acknowledge their mistakes and take responsibility. Therefore, they might initially perceive Icarus's achievement as admirable due to the high standards for heroes. However, considering the catastrophic end of Icarus's flight, his actions could alternatively be seen as a warning against overambition and a failure to adhere to sound advice - in this case, that of his father, Daedalus. Icarus flying so high could be interpreted as him ignoring wisdom, which might lead the onlookers to think less favorably of him.
In the words of Socrates, who valued truth and wisdom above societal honors or superficial success, someone like Icarus who ignored such wisdom for fleeting glory would not be deemed worthy of respect. A Socratic viewpoint would likely see Icarus's actions as foolish rather than admirable.