“They certainly give very strange names to diseases.”
- 427 BC – 347 BC
- Born in Athens, ancient Greece
- Philosopher, scholar, founder of the Academy
- A student of Socrates, his works include “The Republic” and “The Symposium,” and he had a major influence on Western philosophy with his ideas and philosopher-rulership.
Quote
“They certainly give very strange names to diseases.”
Explanation
In this quote, Plato comments on the strangeness or perhaps the perplexing nature of how diseases are named, pointing out how language sometimes falls short of accurately describing the complexity or nature of ailments. While Plato might not be directly criticizing the medical profession of his time, he may be reflecting on how certain things, such as illnesses, can be difficult to understand or explain, and thus they are given names that seem detached from the realities they represent. The naming of diseases may sometimes be arbitrary, obscure, or based on limited understanding, further highlighting the limitations of language when trying to describe the intricacies of the human body and its illnesses.
This idea also ties into Plato’s broader reflections on the limitations of language and knowledge. In many of his works, Plato explores how humans try to define or categorize complex ideas or experiences—whether it’s illness, love, justice, or knowledge—yet these concepts often elude full understanding or definition. In this sense, names are useful tools, but they can never fully capture the essence of the things they represent.
In modern terms, this quote resonates with the way medical terminology can sometimes feel abstract or disconnected from the lived experiences of patients. Diseases are often named based on their symptoms, their discoverers, or the places in which they are common, and sometimes these names seem impersonal or difficult to relate to. The quote reminds us that language—even in specialized fields like medicine—can only go so far in capturing the complexity of life, and that true understanding often requires more than just labels.
