Single Idea 13817

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 2. Descriptions / b. Definite descriptions]

Full Idea

In practice, definite descriptions are for the most part treated as names, since this is by far the most convenient notation (even though they have scope). ..When a description is uniquely satisfied then it does behave like a name.

Gist of Idea

Definite descriptions are usually treated like names, and are just like them if they uniquely refer

Source

David Bostock (Intermediate Logic [1997], 8.3)

Book Reference

Bostock,David: 'Intermediate Logic' [OUP 1997], p.347


A Reaction

Apparent names themselves have problems when they wander away from uniquely picking out one thing, as in 'John Doe'.

Related Idea

Idea 13816 Because of scope problems, definite descriptions are best treated as quantifiers [Bostock]