cratylus   

must express this natural form, and not others which he fancies, in
the material, whatever it may be, which he employs; for example, he
ought to know how to put into iron the forms of awls adapted by nature
to their several uses?
Her. Certainly.
Soc. And how to put into wood forms of shuttles adapted by nature to
their uses?
Her. True.
Soc. For the several forms of shuttles naturally answer to the several
kinds of webs; and this is true of instruments in general.
Her. Yes.
Soc. Then, as to names: ought not our legislator also to know how to
put the true natural names of each thing into sounds and syllables and
to make and give all names with a view to the ideal name, if he is to
be a namer in any true sense? And we must remember that different
legislators will not use the same syllables. For neither does every
smith, although he may be making the same instrument for the same
purpose, make them all of the same iron. The form must be the same,
but the material may vary, and still the instrument may be equally
good of whatever iron made, whether in Hellas or in a foreign
country;- there is no difference.
Her. Very true.
Soc. And the legislator, whether he be Hellene or barbarian, is not
therefore to be deemed by you a worse legislator, provided he gives
the true and proper form of the name in whatever syllables; this or
that country makes no matter.
Her. Quite true.
Soc. But who then is to determine whether the proper form is given to
the shuttle, whatever sort of wood may be used? the carpenter who
makes, or the weaver who is to use them?
Her. I should say, he who is to use them, Socrates.
Soc. And who uses the work of the lyremaker? Will not he be the man
who knows how to direct what is being done, and who will know also
whether the work is being well done or not?
Her. Certainly.
Soc. And who is he?
Her. The player of the lyre.
Soc. And who will direct the shipwright?
Her. The pilot.
Soc. And who will be best able to direct the legislator in his work,
and will know whether the work is well done, in this or any other
country? Will not the user be the man?
Her. Yes.
Soc. And this is he who knows how to ask questions?
Her. Yes.
Soc. And how to answer them?
Her. Yes.
Soc. And him who knows how to ask and answer you would call a
dialectician?
Her. Yes; that would be his name.
Soc. Then the work of the carpenter is to make a rudder, and the pilot
has to direct him, if the rudder is to be well made.
Her. True.
Soc. And the work of the legislator is to give names, and the
dialectician must be his director if the names are to be rightly
given?
Her. That is true.
Soc. Then, Hermogenes, I should say that this giving of names can be
no such light matter as you fancy, or the work of light or chance
persons; and Cratylus is right in saying that things have names by
nature, and that not every man is an artificer of names, but he only
who looks to the name which each thing by nature has, and is able to
express the true forms of things in letters and syllables.
Her. I cannot answer you, Socrates; but I find a difficulty in