back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 17049

[from 'Naming and Necessity lectures' by Saul A. Kripke, in 27. Natural Reality / G. Biology / 5. Species ]

Full Idea

We can say in advance that we use the term 'tiger' to designate a species, and that anything not of this species, even though it looks like a tiger, is not in fact a tiger.

Gist of Idea

'Tiger' designates a species, and merely looking like the species is not enough

Source

Saul A. Kripke (Naming and Necessity lectures [1970], Lecture 3)

Book Reference

Kripke,Saul: 'Naming and Necessity' [Blackwell 1980], p.121


A Reaction

This is the 'baptismal' direct reference theory applied to species as well as to particular names. It seem to hinge on an internal structure being baptised, despite ignorance of what that structure is. Cf nominal essence? 'Tiger' denotes their essence?