Plato’s Cratylus: Language and the Origin of Names

Plato’s Pod podcast launches its third season of group discussions on Plato’s works with the Cratylus, the dialogue that invites us to consider the origin of the names we apply to things and their use in language.

Our first meeting on the Cratylus will cover from the beginning of the dialogue to 400(c), the point where Socrates, Cratylus, and Hermogenes complete their discussion of the origin of the names “body” and “soul”. In this opening section, the debate is whether the names applied to things originated in nature, with an objective basis independent of differing human application and symbology over time, or whether the names we use are relative to human perception in a continual state of change. The former holds that there is a universal account of things and their names, while the latter considers that “man is the measure” of things, which are therefore in flux with no permanent nature.

Socrates states, at 386(e), “…if it isn’t the case that everything always has every attribute simultaneously or that each thing has a being or essence privately for each person, then it is clear that things have some fixed being or essence of their own.” Do we agree? Here, “fixed being” and “essence” can be related to Plato’s Theory of Forms, which we discussed in season two of the podcast. For some ideas on the nature of the Forms as they relate to the Cratylus, participants may wish to listen to the 35-minute introduction to season three of the podcast at https://open.spotify.com/episode/2gZAxa5yYyN0ZiJbGm1TNn?si=a40a64fafaa940f6 and on other popular podcasting platforms.

Considering the timeless definition of thing as an “object of thought”, the scope of Plato’s dialogue that was written 2,400 years ago is relevant to the present. Is there some ancient wisdom of special importance to today’s technology, particularly for powerful new applications like GPT-3 (see https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/29/yeah-were-spooked-ai-starting-to-have-big-real-world-impact-says-expert) that allow machines to simulate human language? We can explore the meaning of two words in particular, “thing” and “democracy”, as we place Plato’s work in a modern context.

Our discussion can go anywhere the group wishes, for which some suggested themes will be offered. Wherever our discussion leads, Plato, without a doubt, would have imagined no better way than in dialogue for knowledge – the account of the reasons why – to multiply its connections. We welcome the sharing of all perspectives, whether you are new to or experienced with Plato. Recordings of previous episodes of Plato’s Pod are at https://open.spotify.com/show/53Zvjr7avMylQgNqfqBxlk?si=7b50d100bfc4474d and other podcast platforms.

This episode will be recorded in voice only without video, using first name as it appears on your screen profile, and podcast for those who would like to share in our knowledge. After the recording ends, participants are welcome to remain for “Plato’s Café”, a casual half-hour discussion of your choice of themes from any of Plato’s works, or philosophy in general.

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APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK BEFORE THE MEETUP: Please visit https://1drv.ms/u/s!AqvPwkIofv4UaFldrPpbva3VSXI?e=3Y7PjP for questions and themes that we might address, as well as those explored in our previous meetups. We will also post the reading list for our next meeting which will generally be scheduled every two weeks on Sunday at 2 p.m. eastern. During our dialogue, participants are encouraged to relate their comments to Plato's text, referring to the Stephanus number for the passage so others can follow in the reading. Participants are also encouraged to read the text aloud for the meaning of the written word to resonate.

There are many translations of Plato's works available, of varying quality. Your public library will have multiple editions. A free translation of The Cratylus is available at https://gutenberg.org/ebooks/1616, although lacking in explanatory footnotes and passage reference numbers that would be useful for our discussion. Participants in our entire series might be interested in purchasing Plato: Complete Works (https://www.amazon.ca/Plato-Complete-Works/dp/0872203492/).

The Meetup will take place on Zoom. Please RSVP to access the Zoom link at your Meetup account.