Project Gutenberg 1999-01-01 Public domain in the USA. 904 Plato -428 -348 Πλάτων Jowett, Benjamin 1817 1893 Jowett, William Cratylus Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cratylus_(dialogue) Sue Asscher "Cratylus" by Plato is a philosophical dialogue written in ancient Greece. This work deeply explores the nature and correctness of language, fundamentally questioning whether names derive their meanings from convention or are inherently tied to their subjects. It features three key characters: Socrates, who engages in discourse and analysis, Cratylus, who supports the idea that names are natural and true reflections of their objects, and Hermogenes, who argues for the conventionality of language. The opening of "Cratylus" introduces readers to the complexities surrounding language by portraying a debate on whether names hold intrinsic value or are subject to human invention. In initial discussions, Socrates prompts Hermogenes to clarify his views on name correctness, suggesting that names may indeed possess elements of truth. As Cratylus interjects, both characters present distinct theories—one advocating for the notion that names must be accurate representations of their meanings and the other arguing that names can be assigned arbitrarily. This sets the stage for a rich exploration of language's nature, integrating humor and satire to critique contemporary views, while also raising deeper philosophical inquiries into the connections between language, knowledge, and reality. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 62.3 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en Classical literature Language and languages -- Philosophy B PA Text Category: Classics of Literature Category: Philosophy & Ethics 341031 2025-08-01T10:29:10.433961 text/html 345140 2022-04-27T07:28:49 text/html 170393 2025-08-01T10:29:15.980956 application/epub+zip 175200 2025-08-01T10:29:12.104980 application/epub+zip 175200 2025-08-01T10:29:11.055003 application/epub+zip 280046 2025-08-01T10:29:19.064956 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 269087 2025-08-01T10:29:15.341935 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 252460 2022-09-01T11:46:48.385317 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 326492 2025-08-01T10:29:10.012012 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 326248 2022-04-27T07:32:22 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 19527 2025-08-01T10:29:19.202917 application/rdf+xml 7388 2025-08-01T10:29:11.545962 image/jpeg 2203 2025-08-01T10:29:11.297996 image/jpeg 114881 2022-04-27T07:32:47 application/octet-stream application/zip 117097 2022-04-27T07:33:10 application/octet-stream application/zip 166355 2025-08-01T10:29:10.465979 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia en.wikipedia