Abstract
[Autom. eng. transl.] In this article I comment on a passage from "Cratilo" (414 B- 415 A), which contains the etymology of "techne" (art) and "mechané" (expedient). In this way I point out a discovery I made in the passage and in the dialogue. In the etymological explanation of these two terms Plato approaches "mechané", the expression "to advance a lot" and inserts words such as "mirror", "Sphinx", "search for accuracy". From an analysis of occurrences an analogy emerges between the "theatrical machines" of tragedy and the "game" that allows the philosopher to quickly present his own thoughts, instead of lingering in an explicit and exact treatment of the same content. The etymology is in short a "play on words" in which Plato, pretending to speak of an ancient, foreign name, through phonetic changes duplicates the name, so as to be able to realize a philosophically significant interpretation. If many themes, here anticipated, will form the basis of my subsequent monograph on "Cratilo", it must however be emphasized that several elements presented in this article and many passages cited here in full and critically analyzed were not then reproduced in the volume, being reserved to this "preview". This applies in particular to the third paragraph, which analyzes some very significant terms and expressions present in this etymology of "techne" and "mechané", such as "katoptron", "Sfinx", "techne", "atopon", "anein poly "," mekos "," hexis nou "," akribologein ".
Translated title of the contribution | [Autom. eng. transl.] The mirror and the Sphinx. The "gimmick" ("mechané") which "advances a lot" in the investigation of names, without "seeking too much accuracy", in "Cratilo", 414 B - 415 A, and in the communication strategy of "Cratilo" of Plato |
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Original language | Italian |
Pages (from-to) | 3-44 |
Number of pages | 42 |
Journal | RIVISTA DI FILOSOFIA NEOSCOLASTICA |
Volume | XIV |
Publication status | Published - 2002 |
Keywords
- AKRIBEIA
- CRATYLUS
- ETIMOLOGIA
- ETYMOLOGY
- MECHANE
- PLATO
- SFINGE
- TECHNE