Reference fixing and the stiffness of reference or three (would be) puzzles concerning names

This paper deals with three puzzles concerning reference. The first concerns the Kripkean distinction between reference fixing by description and meaning giving. The second concerns the compatibility of two properties of names, arbitrariness and rigidity across world. The third concerns the tenabili...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ernesto Napoli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Rosenberg & Sellier 2011-07-01
Series:Rivista di Estetica
Online Access:http://journals.openedition.org/estetica/1946
Description
Summary:This paper deals with three puzzles concerning reference. The first concerns the Kripkean distinction between reference fixing by description and meaning giving. The second concerns the compatibility of two properties of names, arbitrariness and rigidity across world. The third concerns the tenability of the notion that a name means its bearer considering that a name is meaningful even when the bearer is no longer. The solution of the first consists in seeing that the distinction involved is not essentially a modal distinction. The solution of the second consists in setting things right with our modal talk. The solution of the third consists in realizing the persistence across times of the enjoyment of certain properties.
ISSN:0035-6212
2421-5864