388–389
Socrates
Socrates. Is every one a carpenter, or he who has the skill?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. He who has the skill.
Socrates
Socrates. And whose work will the hole-maker use when he uses the borer?
30
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. The smith’s.
Socrates
Socrates. And is every one a smith, or he who has the skill?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. He who has the skill.
Socrates
Socrates. And whose work will the teacher use when he uses the name?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. I cannot tell that, either.
35
Socrates
Socrates. And can you not tell this, either, who gives us the names we use?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. No.
Socrates
Socrates. Do you not think it is the law that gives them to us?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. Very likely.
Socrates
Socrates. Then the teacher, when he uses a name, will be using the work of a lawgiver?
40
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. I think so.
Socrates
Socrates. Do you think every man is a lawgiver, or only he who has the skill?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. He who has the skill.
Socrates
Socrates. Then it is not for every man, Hermogenes, to give names, but for him who may be called the name-maker; and he, it appears, is the lawgiver, who is of all the artisans among men the rarest.
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. So it appears.
Socrates
Socrates. See now what the lawgiver has in view in giving names. Look at it in the light of what has gone before. What has the carpenter in view when he makes a shuttle? Is it not something the nature of which is to weave?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. Certainly.