Single Idea 9041

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / c. Names as referential]

Full Idea

Change of denotation is decisive against the Causal Theory of Names. Changes of denotation actually occur: a hearsay report misunderstood by Marco Polo transferred the name 'Madagascar' from a portion of the mainland to the African island.

Gist of Idea

The Causal Theory of Names is wrong, since the name 'Madagascar' actually changed denotation

Source

Gareth Evans (The Causal Theory of Names [1973], §I)

Book Reference

Evans,Gareth: 'Collected Papers' [OUP 1985], p.11


A Reaction

This doesn't sound decisive, as you could give an intermediate causal account of Marco Polo's mistake. I might take the famous name Winston, and baptise my son with it. And I might have done it because I thought Winston was a German dictator.

Related Idea

Idea 13790 A name-giver might misname something, then force other names to conform to it [Plato]