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Single Idea 13777

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / a. Names]

Full Idea

A name is a sort of tool.

Gist of Idea

A name is a sort of tool

Source

Plato (Cratylus [c.377 BCE], 388a)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Complete Works', ed/tr. Cooper,John M. [Hackett 1997], p.106


A Reaction

Idea 13775 gives a background for this metaphor, from earlier in the text. Wittgenstein has a famous toolkit metaphor for language. The whole of this text, 'Cratylus', is about names.

Related Idea

Idea 13775 We only succeed in cutting if we use appropriate tools, not if we approach it randomly [Plato]