more from Saul A. Kripke

Single Idea 17030

[catalogued under 9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 9. Essence and Properties]

Full Idea

Important properties of an object need not be essential, unless 'importance' is used as a synonym for essence.

Gist of Idea

Important properties of an object need not be essential to it

Source

Saul A. Kripke (Naming and Necessity lectures [1970], Lecture 2)

Book Reference

Kripke,Saul: 'Naming and Necessity' [Blackwell 1980], p.77


A Reaction

Kripke's examples are the writings of Aristotle and the actions of Hitler, but these don't strike me as being 'properties' of those people. They are not intrinsic. Kripke, of course, is concerned with how we identify them, not who they actually are.