Single Idea 10999

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

Full Idea

Unless a name has associated with it a means of reidentifying its referent, we cannot use it.

Gist of Idea

Names need a means of reidentifying their referents

Source

report of F.H. Bradley (Appearance and Reality [1893]) by Stephen Read - Thinking About Logic Ch.4

Book Reference

Read,Stephen: 'Thinking About Logic' [OUP 1995], p.112


A Reaction

Brilliant! This point is totally undeniable. It is not enough that someone be 'baptised'. We need to hang onto both the name and what it refers to, and how are we going to do that?