Full Idea
To explain the 'de re' via the 'de dicto' is to provide a rule enabling us to find, for each de re proposition, an equivalent de dicto proposition.
Gist of Idea
Can we find an appropriate 'de dicto' paraphrase for any 'de re' proposition?
Source
Alvin Plantinga (De Re and De Dicto [1969], p.41)
Book Reference
Plantinga,Alvin: 'Essays in the Metaphysics of Modality' [OUP 2003], p.41
A Reaction
Many 'de dicto' paraphrases will change the modality of a 'de re' statement, so the challenge is to find the right equivalent version. Plantinga takes up this challenge. The 'de dicto' statement says the object has the property, and must have it.