Dialogues · Chapter
Cratylus explained
Socrates engages in a dialogue with Hermogenes and Cratylus about the nature of names and language, exploring whether words have a natural correctness or are merely conventional.
What happens
Socrates engages in a dialogue with Hermogenes and Cratylus about the nature of names and language, exploring whether words have a natural correctness or are merely conventional.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
In this excerpt, the dramatic climax occurs when Erasistratus’s boastful praise of the Syracusan envoy’s immen…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Knowledge and Ignorance
The dialogue examines whether names can reveal truth or lead to misunderstanding.
- Law, Custom, and Legislation
The conventionalist vs. naturalist debate mirrors broader questions about social and legal norms.
Characters to notice
- Socrates
Leads the discussion on the correctness of names.
- Hermogenes
Argues that names are conventional and seeks Socrates' opinion.
- Cratylus
Defends the natural correctness of names.
Key passages
“Socrates: Then a name is a tool?”
Socrates suggests that names function as instruments for communication and distinguishing things.
Highlights the functional view of language.
“Cratylus: But I should say that names are natural and not conventional.”
Cratylus insists that names have an inherent connection to the things they signify.
Contrasts with Hermogenes' conventionalism.
