428–429
Socrates
Socrates. My excellent Cratylus, I myself have been marvelling at my own wisdom all along, and I cannot believe in it. So I think we ought to reexamine my utterances. For the worst of all deceptions is self-deception. How can it help being terrible, when the deceiver is always present and never stirs from the spot? So I think we must turn back repeatedly to what we have said and must try, as the poet says, to look both forwards and backwards.Hom. Il. 1.343; 3.109 Then let us now see what we have said. Correctness of a name, we say, is the quality of showing the nature of the thing named. Shall we call that a satisfactory statement?
Cratylus
Cratylus. I am perfectly satisfied with it, Socrates.
5
Socrates
Socrates. Names, then, are given with a view to instruction?
Cratylus
Cratylus. Certainly.
Socrates
Socrates. Shall we, then; say that this instruction is an art and has its artisans?
Cratylus
Cratylus. Certainly.
Socrates
Socrates. Who are they?
10
Cratylus
Cratylus. The lawgivers, as you said in the beginning.
Socrates
Socrates. Shall we declare that this art arises in men like the other arts, or not? What I mean is this: Some painters are better, and others worse, are they not?
Cratylus
Cratylus. Certainly.
Socrates
Socrates. And the better produce better works—that is, their paintings—and the others worse works? And likewise some builders build better houses and others worse?
Cratylus
Cratylus. Yes.
5
Socrates
Socrates. Then do some lawgivers produce better, and others worse works?
Cratylus
Cratylus. No; at that point I cease to agree.
