more from Willard Quine

Single Idea 9016

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

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 Reference

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.