Cratylus

by Plato; Reeve, C. D. C.

• ISBN13: 9780872204164
• ISBN10: 0872204162
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-09-01
• Publisher: Hackett Pub Co Inc

Summary

The Cratylus, Plato's sole dialogue devoted to the relation between language and reality, is acknowledged to be one of his masterpieces. But owing to its often enigmatic content no more than a handful of passages from it have played a part in the global evaluation of Plato's philosophy. This new English translation by C D C Reeve is the first since 1926, and incomparably the most helpful and accessible now available. It opens up the Cratylus to all philosophically interested readers, as well as to cultural historians and to those whose primary concern is the history of linguistics. The full and lucid introduction does much to illuminate the internal dynamic of this important text and to explain its place within Plato's oeuvre.

Table of Contents

PREFACE	ix	(2)
INTRODUCTION	xi
1 Hermogenes and Cratylus on Names	xii	(2)
2 Natures, Actions, and the Truth in Names	xiv	(5)
3 The Maker of Names	xix	(2)
4 Natures and Forms, Names and Shuttles	xxi	(2)
5 Homer on the Correctness of Names	xxiii	(3)
6 The Testimony of Names Themselves	xxvi	(4)
7 The Etymologies	xxx	(3)
8 Primary Names	xxxiii	(3)
9 Cratylus on Truth, Falsity, and Fitting	xxxvi	(4)
10 Convention Returns	xl	(2)
11 Knowledge and Instruction	xlii	(2)
12 Heracliteanism	xliv	(3)
13 Socrates on the Correctness of Names	xlvii	(5)
14 Conclusion	lii
PLATO'S CRATYLUS	1	(96)
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY	97	(4)
INDEX OF NAMES DISCUSSED IN THE CRATYLUS	101