Single Idea 16954

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / B. Natural Kinds / 7. Critique of Kinds]

Full Idea

In my view, Kripke's promotion of 'natural kinds', coverning chemical substances and animal and plant species, is unfortunate, since these are rather different types of things, and words used for them behave differently.

Gist of Idea

Generalised talk of 'natural kinds' is unfortunate, as they vary too much

Source

Michael Dummett (Could There Be Unicorns? [1983], 2)

Book Reference

Dummett,Michael: 'The Seas of Language' [OUP 1993], p.331


A Reaction

My view is that the only significant difference among natural kinds is their degree of stability in character. Presumably particles, elements and particular molecules are fairly invariant, but living things evolve.