Cratylus by Plato

"Cratylus" by Plato is a dialogue written during Plato's middle period. Two men ask Socrates whether names are conventional or natural—whether language consists of arbitrary signs or words have intrinsic connections to what they signify. Through extensive etymological exploration, Socrates examines the origins of divine names and abstract concepts, testing theories about how language captures reality. The dialogue probes fundamental questions about meaning, communication, and whether studying words can lead to philosophical truth about the nature of things themselves. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Plato, 428? BCE-348? BCE
Translator Jowett, Benjamin, 1817-1893
Title Cratylus
Note Wikipedia page about this book: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cratylus_(dialogue)
Credits Sue Asscher
Reading Level Reading ease score: 62.3 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
Language English
LoC Class B: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion
LoC Class PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature
Subject Classical literature
Subject Language and languages -- Philosophy
Category Text
EBook-No. 1616
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Apr 27, 2022
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
Downloads 1246 downloads in the last 30 days.
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