The Cratylus: Plato's Critique of NamingThe "Cratylus" has puzzled many readers with its lengthy discussion of the 'true meanings' of more than a hundred Greek names. This book aims to give a coherent interpretation of the whole dialogue, paying particular attention to these etymologies. The book discusses the rival theories of naming offered by Cratylus, Hermogenes, and Socrates, arguing that Socrates presents a prescriptive theory, laying down what names should be, rather than describing what they are. This distinction between prescriptive and descriptive theories is elaborated and used to illuminate the etymologies themselves. After discussing possible sources for the etymologies, the author argues that the etymological section amounts to a Platonic critique of the muddled attitude of Greek poets and thinkers towards names. |
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allegorical Anaxagoras argues Aristotle believe Burkert Cambridge claim Comenius commentator correctness of names Cratylus Democritean Democritus derived Derveni Derveni Papyrus dialectic dialogue Diogenes discussion distinction divine doctrine edited elements Empedocles essence etymological section etymologists Euthyphro example extreme flux final aporia Firstly fluxy G.E.L. Owen gods Goldschmidt Greek Heraclitean Heraclitus Hermogenes Hesiod Hippias Homer idea ideal language infallibilist inspiration interpretation ISBN 90 knowledge Kratylos Leibniz letters and syllables linguistic means mimetic mimetic values name and thing namegiver natural theory nominata nominatum Orpheus Oxford Papyrus Parmenides passage perhaps Pherecydes philosophical Phronesis Plato Plato's Cratylus plausible poets possible prescriptive theory problem Prodicus Protagoras Pythagorean question reality reference refutation reveal Schofield seems semantic sense Socrates Sophists soul suggests Theaetetus theory of naming thinkers tool analogy argument true truth whilst words Zeus δὲ καὶ οἱ περὶ τὰ τὴν τῆς τὸ τῶν