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Single Idea 10426

[from 'The Philosophy of Logical Atomism' by Bertrand Russell, in 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / e. Empty names ]

Full Idea

A name has got to name something or it is not a name.

Gist of Idea

A name has got to name something or it is not a name

Source

Bertrand Russell (The Philosophy of Logical Atomism [1918], 66th pg), quoted by Mark Sainsbury - The Essence of Reference 18.2

Book Reference

'Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Language', ed/tr. Lepore,E/Smith,B [OUP 2008], p.399


A Reaction

This seems to be stipulative, since most people would say that a list of potential names for a baby counted as names. It may be wrong. There are fictional names, or mistakes.