Abstract

The question concerning names and things discussed in Cratylus, repeats the old and fundamental philosophical subject of "phusis" and "nomos"; an essential issue which may be considered as the ground for many theories in Greek philosophy. The question In Cratylus is how relates a name to its object or thing to which the name refers. Are names by nature, i.e. is there any necessary relation between a name and its object, or as long as there is a convention, an object could be called by any name. According to Socrates the true nature of anything is tobe found in its idea and not in its perishable material form. Thus the naturally correct name is that which imitates the idea and reveals it.