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Hermogenes
Hermogenes. I do not know how to answer you, Socrates; nevertheless it is not easy to change my conviction suddenly. I think you would be more likely to convince me, if you were to show me just what it is that you say is the natural correctness of names.
Socrates
Socrates. I, my dear Hermogenes, do not say that there is any. You forget what I said a while ago, that I did not know, but would join you in looking for the truth. And now, as we are looking, you and I, we already see one thing we did not know before, that names do possess a certain natural correctness, and that not every man knows how to give a name well to anything whatsoever. Is not that true?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. Certainly.
Socrates
Socrates. Then our next task is to try to find out, if you care to know about it, what kind of correctness that is which belongs to names.
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. To be sure I care to know.
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Socrates
Socrates. Then investigate.
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. How shall I investigate?
Socrates
Socrates. The best way to investigate, my friend, is with the help of those who know; and you make sure of their favour by paying them money. They are the sophists, Truth was the title of a book written by Protagoras. of Protagoras altogether, should desire what is said in such a Truth, as if it were of any value.
Socrates. Then if you do not like that, you ought to learn from Homer and the other poets.
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. Why, Socrates, what does Homer say about names, and where?
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