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Full Idea
The important thing about proper names is that it would be ridiculous to think that having linguistic competence can be equated in their case with knowledge of a necessary and sufficient condition.
Gist of Idea
Using proper names properly doesn't involve necessary and sufficient conditions
Source
Hilary Putnam (Explanation and Reference [1973], II B)
Book Ref
Putnam,Hilary: 'Mind Language and Reality: Papers vol 2' [CUP 1975], p.204
| 11908 | Putnam bases essences on 'same kind', but same kinds may not share properties [Mackie,P on Putnam] |
| 11904 | Express natural kinds as a posteriori predicate connections, not as singular terms [Putnam, by Mackie,P] |
| 17505 | Using proper names properly doesn't involve necessary and sufficient conditions [Putnam] |
| 17507 | Natural kind stereotypes are 'strong' (obvious, like tiger) or 'weak' (obscure, like molybdenum) [Putnam] |
| 17506 | I now think reference by the tests of experts is a special case of being causally connected [Putnam] |
| 17508 | Science aims at truth, not at 'simplicity' [Putnam] |