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Single Idea 13789

[from 'Cratylus' by Plato, in 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / c. Names as referential ]

Full Idea

The simple truth is that anyone who knows a thing's name also knows the thing.

Gist of Idea

Anyone who knows a thing's name also knows the thing

Source

Plato (Cratylus [c.377 BCE], 435d)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Complete Works', ed/tr. Cooper,John M. [Hackett 1997], p.151


A Reaction

A nice slogan, but it seems to be blatantly false. The best example is Gareth Evans's of joining in a conversation about a person ('Louis'?), and only gradually tuning in to the person to which the name refers.

Related Idea

Idea 13791 Things must be known before they are named, so it can't be the names that give us knowledge [Plato]