Abstract

This chapter traces Plato's philosophical responses to the puzzle of Epicharmus' “Growing Argument” in the earlier and middle dialogues of Plato, especially Euthyphro and Cratylus. Plato's approach to this problem is rooted in his metaphysical propositions, including the correlative assumptions of participation of sensibles in Forms and imitation as a vehicle for names to obtain the properties of their governing Forms. By attacking a Sophistical version of the “Growing Argument” given by Cratylus, Plato simultaneously appropriates certain principles of ontological predication given by Philolaus of Croton, thus pitting, in effect, the ideas of one mathematical Pythagorean against those of another.