Commentary on Plato's Cratylus

Proclus, the 5th century Neoplatonist philosopher, wrote this commentary on Plato's dialogue Cratylus - a text that examines the relationship between names and the things they represent. The commentary follows Proclus' systematic approach to analyzing Platonic texts through careful exposition and interpretation. The work addresses core questions from the original dialogue about whether names have a natural correctness or are merely conventional, and how language relates to reality. Through his analysis, Proclus engages with both the linguistic theories discussed in Plato's text and their broader metaphysical implications. Proclus examines key passages and arguments while incorporating elements of later Platonic thought and his own philosophical framework. The commentary includes detailed discussions of etymology, the nature of divine names, and the role of the Demiurge in establishing the connection between words and things. The text represents an important bridge between ancient Greek philosophy of language and medieval theories about signification and naming. Its examination of how names relate to eternal Forms became influential for later philosophical and theological discussions about religious language and metaphysics.

This book appears to have limited public reviews online, with only a small number of academic readers commenting. Readers valued: - The detailed philological analysis of names and etymology - Proclus's systematic approach to Plato's linguistic theory - The clear English translation by Brian Duvick - The extensive commentary notes that provide historical context Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style that can be difficult to follow - Assumes significant background knowledge of Neoplatonism - Limited discussion of the broader philosophical implications - High price point for academic print editions Available Ratings: Goodreads: No ratings Amazon: No consumer reviews Google Books: No user reviews The main discussions appear in academic journals and scholarly reviews rather than consumer platforms. Professor Stephen Gersh noted in The Classical Review that the translation "succeeds admirably in rendering Proclus's often convoluted Greek into readable English while preserving the technical precision of the original."

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🔹 Proclus' Commentary on Cratylus is one of only three surviving ancient commentaries on this Platonic dialogue, making it an invaluable resource for understanding ancient interpretations of Plato's linguistic theories. 🔹 Written in the 5th century CE, this commentary reveals how Neoplatonist philosophers viewed language as having a mystical connection to reality, believing names could contain divine truths about the objects they represented. 🔹 The work extensively discusses the concept of "natural names" versus "conventional names," exploring whether words inherently reflect the nature of things or are merely arbitrary human constructs. 🔹 Proclus wrote this commentary while serving as head of the Platonic Academy in Athens, nearly 900 years after the original dialogue was written by Plato. 🔹 The text survived largely through Byzantine manuscripts, and its first complete English translation wasn't published until 2007 by Brian Duvick, making its insights relatively newly available to modern English-speaking scholars.