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Single Idea 17000

[filed under theme 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 5. Simples ]

Full Idea

Maybe strict identity only applies to the particulars (the molecules) in a case of vague identity. …It seems, however, utopian to suppose that we will ever reach a level of ultimate, basic particulars for which identity relations are never vague.

Gist of Idea

We might fix identities for small particulars, but it is utopian to hope for such things

Source

Saul A. Kripke (Naming and Necessity notes and addenda [1972], note 18)

Book Ref

Kripke,Saul: 'Naming and Necessity' [Blackwell 1980], p.51

A Reaction

I agree with this. Ladyman and Ross laugh at the unscientific picture found in dreams of 'simples'.

The 14 ideas from 'Naming and Necessity notes and addenda'

17059 Unicorns are vague, so no actual or possible creature could count as a unicorn [Kripke]
17058 What many people consider merely physically necessary I consider completely necessary [Kripke]
4970 What is often held to be mere physical necessity is actually metaphysical necessity [Kripke]
9221 The best known objection to counterparts is Kripke's, that Humphrey doesn't care if his counterpart wins [Kripke, by Sider]
4950 Possible worlds are useful in set theory, but can be very misleading elsewhere [Kripke]
17000 We might fix identities for small particulars, but it is utopian to hope for such things [Kripke]
16999 A vague identity may seem intransitive, and we might want to talk of 'counterparts' [Kripke]
17003 Kaplan's 'Dthat' is a useful operator for transforming a description into a rigid designation [Kripke]
4956 A description may fix a reference even when it is not true of its object [Kripke]
17032 Even if Gödel didn't produce his theorems, he's still called 'Gödel' [Kripke]
17044 A relation can clearly be reflexive, and identity is the smallest reflexive relation [Kripke]
11868 A different piece of wood could have been used for that table; constitution isn't identity [Wiggins on Kripke]
17052 The a priori analytic truths involving fixing of reference are contingent [Kripke]
4969 I regard the mind-body problem as wide open, and extremely confusing [Kripke]