KRATYLUS.
Persons and subjects of the dialogue Kratylus--Sokrates has no
formed opinion, but is only a Searcher with the others 285
Argument of Sokrates against Hermogenes--all proceedings of nature
are conducted according to fixed laws--speaking and naming among
the rest 286
The name is a didactic instrument; fabricated by the law-giver
upon the type of the Name-Form, and employed as well as
appreciated, by the philosopher 287
Names have an intrinsic aptitude for signifying one thing and not
another 289
Forms of Names, as well as Forms of things nameable--essence of
the Nomen, to signify the Essence of its Nominatum _ib._
Exclusive competence of a privileged lawgiver, to discern these
essences, and to apportion names rightly 290
Counter-Theory, which Sokrates here sets forth and impugns--the
Protagorean doctrine--Homo Mensura 291
Objection by Sokrates--That Protagoras puts all men on a level as
to wisdom and folly, knowledge and ignorance 292
Objection unfounded--What the Protagorean theory really
affirms--Belief always relative to the believer's mind _ib._
Each man believes others to be wiser on various points than
himself--Belief on authority--not inconsistent with the
affirmation of Protagoras 293
Analogy of physical processes (cutting and burning) appealed to by
Sokrates--does not sustain his inference against Protagoras 294
Reply of Protagoras to the Platonic objections 295
Sentiments of Belief and Disbelief, common to all men--Grounds of
belief and disbelief, different with different men and different
ages 295
Protagoras did not affirm, that Belief depended upon the will or
inclination of each individual but that it was relative to the
circumstances of each individual mind 297
Facts of sense--some are the same to all sentient subjects, others
are different to different subjects. Grounds of unanimity 298
Sokrates exemplifies his theory of the Absolute Name or the
Name-Form. He attempts to show the inherent rectitude of many
existing names. His etymological transitions 299
These transitions appear violent to a modern reader. They did not
appear so to readers of Plato until this century. Modern
discovery, that they are intended as caricatures to deride the
Sophists 302
Dissent from this theory--No proof that the Sophists ever proposed
etymologies 304
Plato did not intend to propose mock-etymologies, or to deride any
one. Protagoras could not be ridiculed here. Neither Hermogenes
nor Kratylus understand the etymologies as caricature 306
Plato intended his theory as serious, but his exemplifications as
admissible** guesses. He does not cite particular cases as proofs of
a theory, but only as illustrating what he means 308
Sokrates announces himself as Searcher. Other etymologists of
ancient times admitted etymologies as rash as those of Plato 310
Continuance of the dialogue--Sokrates endeavours to explain how it
is that the Names originally right have become so disguised and
spoiled 312
Letters, as well as things, must be distinguished with their
essential properties, each must be
adapted to each 313
Essential significant aptitude consists in resemblance _ib._
Sokrates assumes that the Name-giving Lawgiver was a believer in
the Herakleitean theory 314
But the Name-Giver may be mistaken or incompetent--the rectitude
of the name depends upon his knowledge 315
Changes and transpositions introduced in the name--hard to follow
315
Sokrates qualifies and attenuates his original thesis 316
Conversation of Sokrates with Kratylus; who upholds that original
thesis without any qualification _ib._
Sokrates goes still farther towards retracting it 317
There are names better and worse--more like, or less like to the
things named: Natural Names are the best, but they cannot always
be had. Names may be significant by habit, though in an inferior
way 318
All names are not consistent with the theory of Herakleitus: some
are opposed to it 319
It is not true to say, That Things can only be known through their
names 320
Unchangeable Platonic Forms--opposed to the Herakleitean flux,
which is true only respecting
sensible particulars _ib._
Herakleitean theory must not be assumed as certain. We must not
put implicit faith in names 321
Remarks upon the dialogue. Dissent from the opinion of Stallbaum
and others, that it is intended to deride Protagoras and other
Sophists _ib._
Theory laid down by Sokrates _à priori_, in the first part--Great
difficulty, and ingenuity necessary, to bring it into harmony with
facts 322
Opposite tendencies of Sokrates in the last half of the dialogue--he
disconnects his theory of Naming from the Herakleitean doctrine
324
Ideal of the best system of naming--the Name-Giver ought to be
familiar with the Platonic Ideas or Essences, and apportion his
names according to resemblances among them 325
Comparison of Plato's views about naming with those upon social
institutions. Artistic, systematic construction--contrasted with
unpremeditated unsystematic growth 327
Politikus compared with Kratylus 328
Ideal of Plato--Postulate of the One Wise Man--Badness of all
reality 329
Comparison of Kratylus, Theætêtus, and Sophistês, in treatment of
the question respecting Non-Ens, and the possibility of false
propositions 331
Discrepancies and inconsistencies of Plato, in his manner of
handling the same subject 332
No common didactic purpose pervading the Dialogues--each is a
distinct composition, working out its own peculiar argument
_ib._