Full Idea
Kripke's metaphysics of essences, natural kinds, and rigid designation gave philosophers a means of avoiding the relativist path that was bound to end in the tears of sociology.
Gist of Idea
Kripke's metaphysics (essences, kinds, rigidity) blocks the slide into sociology
Source
report of Saul A. Kripke (Naming and Necessity lectures [1970]) by J Ladyman / D Ross - Every Thing Must Go 1.2
Book Reference
Ladyman,J/Ross,D: 'Every Thing Must Go' [OUP 2007], p.9
A Reaction
They are contemptuous of Kripke's project, but this is the core of it. He was making a stand against Kuhn, and trying to build a metaphysics for realism. Good for Kripke.