  This final scene thus points forward to two diametrically opposed developments. One is Cratylus’ eventual conviction, as reported by Aristotle (Metaphysics 1010a7–15), that flux is so rampant and exceptionless as to make it impossible to speak of anything at all. The other is Socrates’ progress towards the stable ontology that would in due course be the hallmark of Platonism. Plato had in his formative years been influenced in turn by both Cratylus and Socrates. The dialogue’s close symbolizes his own eventual philosophical choice between them.