Cratylus

About “Cratylus”

Cratylus is a dialogue by Plato in which Socrates discusses the nature of names with two men, Cratylus and Hermogenes. The central question is whether names are conventional, meaning they are assigned arbitrarily, or natural, meaning they have an inherent connection to what they name. The dialogue explores the relationship between language and reality, focusing on the origins and validity of naming. It reflects Plato's interest in the structure and meaning of language during his middle period. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)