Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Preliminary note
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Cratylus' naturalism (383a–384c)
- 2 Hermogenes' conventionalism (384c–386e)
- 3 Naturalism defended (386e–390e)
- 4 Naturalism unfolded (390e–394e)
- 5 Naturalism illustrated: the etymologies of ‘secondary’ names (394e–421c)
- 6 Naturalism illustrated: the primary names (421c–427e)
- 7 Naturalism discussed (427e–433b)
- 8 Naturalism refuted and conventionalism defended (433b–439b)
- 9 Flux and forms (439b–440e)
- Appendix 1 The text of 437d10–438b8
- Appendix 2 Some interpolations and non-mechanical errors in W and δ
- References
- I General index
- II Index of ancient texts
- III Index of Greek expressions
- IV Index of words discussed in the Cratylus
3 - Naturalism defended (386e–390e)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 October 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Preliminary note
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Cratylus' naturalism (383a–384c)
- 2 Hermogenes' conventionalism (384c–386e)
- 3 Naturalism defended (386e–390e)
- 4 Naturalism unfolded (390e–394e)
- 5 Naturalism illustrated: the etymologies of ‘secondary’ names (394e–421c)
- 6 Naturalism illustrated: the primary names (421c–427e)
- 7 Naturalism discussed (427e–433b)
- 8 Naturalism refuted and conventionalism defended (433b–439b)
- 9 Flux and forms (439b–440e)
- Appendix 1 The text of 437d10–438b8
- Appendix 2 Some interpolations and non-mechanical errors in W and δ
- References
- I General index
- II Index of ancient texts
- III Index of Greek expressions
- IV Index of words discussed in the Cratylus
Summary
In chapter 2 I analysed Socrates' first reactions to Hermogenes' thesis and argued that down to 386d2, where the rejection of Protagoras' relativist doctrine is accomplished, Socrates displays no hostile attitude towards conventionalism. In the sequel, however, what might have seemed just an inquiry into Hermogenes' attitude to Protagoras turns out to have been also, at the same time, the first step of a long and complex defence of naturalism and attack on conventionalism, which will end in 390de with the conclusion that Cratylus is right and Hermogenes is wrong. Our next task is to explore the structure, content and purpose of the arguments which Socrates advances here.
FIRST ARGUMENT: THE NATURALNESS OF ACTIONS (386E–387D)
The naturalness of actions. Cutting and burning (386e–387b)
Socrates' next and crucial step is to argue that actions have an objective nature:
so. Could it then be the case that the objects themselves [αὐτά] have such a nature, while the actions belonging to them [αἱ δὲ πράξεις αὐτῶν] aren't in the same condition? Or aren't these too, I say actions, one kind of beings [ἕν τι εἶδος τῶν ὄντων]?
he. Of course they are too.
so. Therefore actions too are performed according to their nature, not according to our judgement [κατὰ τὴν αὑτῶν ἄρα φύσιν καὶ αἱ πράξεις πράττονται, οὐ κατὰ τὴν ἡμετέραν δόξαν].
(386e6–387a2)Essentially, I take Socrates to be simply arguing, in accordance with the conclusion of Protagoras' refutation (386de), that actions have an objective nature because everything does.
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- The Cratylus of PlatoA Commentary, pp. 95 - 145Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011