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Full Idea
Names are convenient but redundant, because Fa is equivalent to (an x)(a=x,Fx), so a need only occur in the context a=, but this can be rendered as a simple predicate A, so that Fa gives way to (an x)(Ax.Fx).
Gist of Idea
Names are not essential, because naming can be turned into predication
Source
Willard Quine (Philosophy of Logic [1970], Ch.2)
Book Ref
Quine,Willard: 'Philosophy of Logic' [Prentice-Hall 1970], p.25
A Reaction
In eliminating names from analysis, Quine takes Russell's strategy a step further. It is probably this which provoked Kripke into going right back to Mill's view of names as basic labels. The name/description boundary is blurred. Mr Gradgrind.
| 7311 | The only genuine proper names are 'this' and 'that' [Russell] |
| 19321 | We might do without names, by converting them into predicates [Quine, by Kirkham] |
| 8455 | Canonical notation needs quantification, variables and predicates, but not names [Quine, by Orenstein] |
| 8456 | Quine extended Russell's defining away of definite descriptions, to also define away names [Quine, by Orenstein] |
| 9016 | Names are not essential, because naming can be turned into predication [Quine] |
| 9204 | Quine's arguments fail because he naively conflates names with descriptions [Fine,K on Quine] |