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Single Idea 18941

[from 'On Denoting' by Bertrand Russell, in 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / b. Names as descriptive ]

Full Idea

Russell proposed that names do not express a Fregean sense, ...but are disguised definite descriptions, of the form 'the F'.

Gist of Idea

Names don't have a sense, but are disguised definite descriptions

Source

report of Bertrand Russell (On Denoting [1905]) by Sarah Sawyer - Empty Names 3

Book Reference

'Routledge Companion to Phil of Language', ed/tr. Russell/Graff Faria [Routledge 2015], p.155


A Reaction

Of course, Russell then has a famous theory about definite descriptions, which turns them into quantifications.

Related Ideas

Idea 18937 If sentences have a 'sense', empty name sentences can be understood that way [Frege, by Sawyer]

Idea 18942 Russell says a name contributes a complex of properties, rather than an object [Russell, by Sawyer]