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Single Idea 17059

[from 'Naming and Necessity notes and addenda' by Saul A. Kripke, in 10. Modality / B. Possibility / 1. Possibility ]

Full Idea

If the unicorn myth is supposed to be a particular species, with insufficient internal structure to determine it uniquely, then there is no actual or possible species of which we can say that it would have been the species of unicorns.

Gist of Idea

Unicorns are vague, so no actual or possible creature could count as a unicorn

Source

Saul A. Kripke (Naming and Necessity notes and addenda [1972], Add (a))

Book Reference

Kripke,Saul: 'Naming and Necessity' [Blackwell 1980], p.157


A Reaction

Dummett and Rumfitt discuss this proposal elsewhere.