Full Idea
Putnam argues that, Frege notwithstanding, it is often the case that reference determines sense, and not vice versa.
Clarification
Frege argued that things only refer because of the way they are described; Putnam prefers a causal link
Gist of Idea
Often reference determines sense, and not (as Frege thought) vice versa
Source
report of Hilary Putnam (The Meaning of 'Meaning' [1975]) by Roger Scruton - Modern Philosophy:introduction and survey 19.6
Book Reference
Scruton,Roger: 'Modern Philosophy: introduction and survey' [Sinclair-Stevenson 1994], p.263
A Reaction
Does this say anything more than that once you have established a reference, you can begin to collect information about the referent?