Cratylus

Plato, 427？ BCE-347？ BCEProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.0

Word count: 196K words
Chapters: 20

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Cratylus by PlatoAuthor: Plato, 427? BCE-347? BCE,Language: English, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Jan 1, 1999

Editor's review

Cratylus is a Platonic dialogue on names and language, classified under classical language and literature. It debates whether names are conventional or natural, and is a key entry point to ancient Greek philosophy of language. The Gutenberg edition provides an English text suitable as a parallel-reading base text. The pleasure of the dialogue lies in the process of reasoning itself: the argument sometimes jumps, and the etymological derivations may not seem reliable to modern readers, but precisely these derivations display how language was thought about in Plato's time. It is not recommended to read it as a linguistic conclusion, but rather as a philosophical drama, attending to the rhythm of questions and refutations. For philosophy students it is an unavoidable classic; for general readers it is a reading experience that trains patience and logical sense. It is advisable to use it with a guide or translator's notes so as not to get lost in the etymological passages.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Philosophy students and enthusiasts of Western philosophical history
Readers interested in the origin of language and the problem of names
Course learners who need English source material of Plato
Readers accustomed to slow reading of speculative texts and willing to reread

Not a good fit for

Readers hoping for light stories or quick conclusions
Beginners who find classical texts hard to enter without guides and notes
Readers expecting modern scientific conclusions in linguistics

Reading tips

Read a reliable introductory guide to the dialogue first, to understand the characters and argumentative framework before entering the text.
Keep paper and pen at hand to note the turns of argument and key points of Socratic questioning.
Do not worry about right or wrong in the etymological derivations; focus on their argumentative intent and historical context.
Read in sections, and after each part retell the issue in a few sentences to check comprehension.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What does Cratylus mainly discuss?

It is a Platonic dialogue centered on the origin and correctness of names, discussing whether names are natural or conventional, and touching on the relations among language, reference, and knowledge.

Can I read it without a philosophy background?

You can try, but it is advisable first to use a guide or course explanation to understand the dialogue's background and argumentative structure. The original is densely speculative with many etymological derivations, and it is hard going without auxiliary materials.

Does this edition have notes?

According to the information, the book is an English text released by Project Gutenberg and is not stated to include scholarly notes. If detailed notes are needed, it is advisable to read it alongside an authoritative translation or scholarly edition.

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About the author

Plato, 427？ BCE-347？ BCE Author

Plato (c. 427–347 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher. Reliable details of his life are limited in public sources, and his thought and writings are generally known through later accounts. The library holds 65 of his works, including the multi-volume Republic (Πολιτεία), the Symposium, and the Phaedo. These works are mostly dialogues with Socrates as the central figure, unfolding through question and answer around justice, the governance of the city, love, the soul, and knowledge, combining philosophical inquiry with dramatic literary form. The Republic, which discusses the ideal city and justice, is especially influential. Plato's style is marked by analogy, argument, and open-ended conclusions, and he has had a lasting influence on later Western philosophy and political thought.