The Cratylus : Plato's critique of naming /
The Cratylus has puzzled many readers with its lengthy discussion of the 'true meanings' of more than a hundred Greek names. This book aims to give a coherent interpretation of the whole dialogue, paying particular attention to these etymologies. The book discusses the rival theories of na...
Main Author:
Format: eBook
Language: English
Published:
Leiden ; New York :
E.J. Brill,
1992.
Series:
Philosophia Antiqua
58.
Philosophia Antiqua Online, ISBN: 9789004319752.
Subjects:
Online Access: Login to view Source
Tags: Add Tag
Call Number: B367 .B39 1992
| Summary: | The Cratylus has puzzled many readers with its lengthy discussion of the 'true meanings' of more than a hundred Greek names. This book aims to give a coherent interpretation of the whole dialogue, paying particular attention to these etymologies. The book discusses the rival theories of naming offered by Cratylus, Hermogenes, and Socrates, arguing that Socrates presents a prescriptive theory, laying down what names should be, rather than describing what they are. This distinction between prescriptive and descriptive theories is elaborated and used to illuminate the etymologies themselves. After discussing possible sources for the etymologies, the author argues that the etymological section amounts to a Platonic critique of the muddled attitude of Greek poets and thinkers towards names. |
|---|---|
| Physical Description: | 1 online resource (viii, 203 pages) |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (p. 188-193) and indexes. |
| ISBN: | 9789004320796 |
| ISSN: | 0079-1687 ; |
| Access: | Available to subscribing member institutions only. |