Single Idea 5824

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / a. Names]

Full Idea

We need an account of what makes an expression into a name for something that will allow names to change their denotations.

Gist of Idea

How can an expression be a name, if names can change their denotation?

Source

Gareth Evans (The Causal Theory of Names [1973], §II)

Book Reference

Evans,Gareth: 'Collected Papers' [OUP 1985], p.14


A Reaction

Presumably an example would be 'The Prime Minister is in the building'. Evans proposes to discuss communication, rather than strict meanings and descriptions.