Cratylus
The Cratylus is Plato's dialogue on the nature of names. Hermogenes holds that names are a matter of convention, while Cratylus insists that each thing has a correct name by nature, and Socrates is drawn in to examine both views. In a long and often playful central section he offers a cascade of fanciful etymologies of the names of gods, heroes and abstract ideas, before turning to the question of whether names can teach us the truth about things and to the Heraclitean doctrine that everything is in flux. Readers have long debated how seriously Plato meant the etymologies. This translation by Benjamin Jowett includes his introduction discussing the dialogue's purpose. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the opening pages free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Cratylus
Cratylus by Plato can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Cratylus online?
Yes. Cratylus opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Cratylus free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Cratylus is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Cratylus in the public domain?
Yes. Cratylus by Plato is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Benjamin Jowett. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Cratylus?
About 3 h 32 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Cratylus?
Cratylus by Plato is filed under "Philosophy" in the Vinteuil library.
