Publisher's Synopsis
Cratylus is a philosophical dialogue written by Plato, a renowned ancient Greek philosopher. The dialogue takes place between Socrates, Hermogenes, and Cratylus, and explores the nature of language and its relationship to reality. Socrates begins by questioning the validity of names and words, arguing that they are arbitrary and do not necessarily correspond to the objects they represent. Cratylus, on the other hand, believes that words have inherent meanings and that their sounds reflect the essence of the objects they represent. Throughout the dialogue, the three characters engage in a series of debates and arguments, discussing various theories of language and examining the implications of each. They discuss the role of convention and tradition in language, as well as the possibility of a universal language that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers. Ultimately, the dialogue ends without a clear resolution, leaving readers to ponder the complex relationship between language and reality. Cratylus remains a significant work in the history of philosophy, and its ideas continue to influence modern linguistic and philosophical thought.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.'This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.