Cratylus by Plato (387)
The dialogue explores the nature of language and reality through a discussion between Socrates and Cratylus about the origins and meaning of words. They examine various theories on how words are formed and whether they accurately reflect the true nature of things. The conversation touches on the relationship between names, concepts, and reality, raising questions about the role of convention in shaping language and its connection to truth.
By Plato · First published 387 · Genre: Philosophical Dialogue, Linguistic Philosophy, Metaphysics · 37,377 words
First lines
Persons of the dialogue: Socrates Hermogenes Cratylus
Hermogenes: Suppose that we make Socrates a party to the argument?
What this Textopian page supports
Cratylus is listed on Textopian as an essay by Plato, dated 387 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Plato
- Date: 387 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Dialogue, Linguistic Philosophy, Metaphysics, Socratic Dialogue, Rhetoric
- Length: 37,377 words
- Structure: 1 section, 792 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Cratylus by Plato
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Cratylus?
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Similar titles
- Theaetetus by Plato
- Timaeus by Plato
- Nominalist And Realist by Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Sophist by Plato
- Tractatus Logico Philosophicus by Ludwig Wittgenstein
- Meno by Plato
Genres
- Philosophical Dialogue — The work primarily explores themes of language, meaning, and knowledge through a dialogue format.
- Linguistic Philosophy — It delves into the relationship between words and their meanings, making it central to linguistic philosophy.
- Metaphysics — The text addresses fundamental questions about reality and existence as they relate to language.
- Socratic Dialogue — It employs the Socratic method to engage in critical questioning and discussion.
Tags
Philosophy · Language · Etymology · Semantics · Ontology · Epistemology · Metaphysics · Linguistics · Socratic Method · Dialogue · Platonic Philosophy · Theory of Forms