[385a]
Socrates
It may be that you are right, Hermogenes; but let us see. Whatever name we decide to give each particular thing is its name?Hermogenes
Yes.Socrates
Whether the giver be a private person or a state?Hermogenes
Yes.Socrates
Well, then, suppose I give a name to some thing or other, designating, for instance, that which we now call “man” as “horse” and that which we now call “horse” as “man,” will the real name of the same thing be “man” for the public and “horse” for me individually, and in the other case “horse” for the public and “man” for me individually? Is that your meaning?
It may be that you are right, Hermogenes; but let us see. Whatever name we decide to give each particular thing is its name?Hermogenes
Yes.Socrates
Whether the giver be a private person or a state?Hermogenes
Yes.Socrates
Well, then, suppose I give a name to some thing or other, designating, for instance, that which we now call “man” as “horse” and that which we now call “horse” as “man,” will the real name of the same thing be “man” for the public and “horse” for me individually, and in the other case “horse” for the public and “man” for me individually? Is that your meaning?