Cratylus

By Jowett, Benjamin

Book Id: WPLBN0000651799
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 0.3 MB
Reproduction Date: 2005

Title:	Cratylus
Author:	Jowett, Benjamin
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Fiction, Literature, Literature & drama
Collections:	Classic Literature Collection, Penn State University's Electronic Classics Series Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Penn State University's Electronic Classics


Citation APA MLA Chicago Benjamin, 1817-189, B. J. (n.d.). Cratylus. Retrieved from http://www.self.gutenberg.org/

Excerpt
Excerpt: Persons of the dialogue: Socrates, Hermogenes, Cratylus. Hermogenes: Suppose that we make Socrates a party to the argument? Cratylus: If you please. Hermogenes: I should explain to you, Socrates, that our friend Cratylus has been arguing about names; he says that they are natural and not conventional; not a portion of the human voice which men agree to use; but that there is a truth or correctness in them, which is the same for Hellenes as for barbarians. Whereupon I ask him, whether his own name of Cratylus is a true name or not, and he answers ?Yes.? And Socrates? ?Yes.? Then every man?s name, as I tell him, is that which he is called. To this he replies--?If all the world were to call you Hermogenes, that would not be your name.? And when I am anxious to have a further explanation he is ironical and mysterious, and seems to imply that he has a notion of his own about the matter, if he would only tell, and could entirely convince me, if he chose to be intelligible. Tell me, Socrates, what this oracle means; or rather tell me, if you will be so good, what is your own view of the truth or correctness of names, which I would far sooner hear.