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Orthotes onomaton (Ancient Greek:ὀρθότης ὀνομάτων, "correctness of names") is aPlatonic theory that investigates the correct usage ofwords andnames.
The most common textsorthotes onomaton appears in arePlato's worksCratylus,Protagoras, andThe Republic. In these, he criticizes theSophists, namelyProdicus andProtagoras, for their misused language.
Plato, Prodicus, and Protagoras stemmed from the sameliterary history ofAncient Greece; therefore, this issue of who is saying what correctly is innovative for the point in time that these texts were created. Plato's concern with the sophists' usage was that their words andphrases gave misleading impressions aboutreality and that, as highly reveredintellectuals, the sophists should have utilized the most fitting descriptive words possible. He depicts these two in different lights.[1]
Prodicus’ concern withorthotēs onomatōn appears to be a problem with correctness, with terms that are very similar in meaning and relation but have different senses. “In Protagoras, for example, Prodicus is said to distinguish between the terms “impartial” and “undecided”; “debate” and “dispute”; “esteem” and “praise”; “enjoyment” and “pleasure”; and “will” and “desire”.[2]
Plato depicts Protagoras as using distinctions between grander meanings and wordgenders. “Protagoras is alleged to have faultedHomer for opening theIliad with a command when the poet thought he was uttering aprayer.”[2]
