Språkfilosofi I - Kripke

Proposition

A function from possible worlds to truth values (when meaning is explicated in terms of intensions)

4 arguments against descriptivism

1. Epistemic

2. Modal

3. Semantic

4. Names and Indefinite Descriptions

Descriptions are ____ designators

nonrigid

The general lesson of Kripke’s arguments is that names should not be analyzed as descriptions precisely because the ______ of names and descriptions are different

intensions

If Millianismis correct, i.e. if names are directly referential and rigid designators, this raises a difficult ______ question, namely in virtue of what does a name refer to its referent?

metasemantic

Causal theory of reference

(a) that the baptism is the initial cause of the name’s referent and (b) that this completely fixes reference

Semantic externalism

The meaning of certain expressions is determined in whole, or in part, by factors that are external to the speaker

Madagascar Problem

Unclear how the causal theory of reference deals with cases where the reference of the name shifts, like the name Madagascar did, from Somalia to the island today

Twin Earth thought experiment

Argument for sematntic externalism proposed by Putnam.

• Oscar has said that H2O is tasty.

• Twin-Oscar has said that XYZ is tasty.

Despite sharing mental states

Problem with Kripke’s view

“Most Linas are Swedish”: Name not directly referential nor rigid. Look more like predicates “is called Lina”