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Single Idea 4945

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

Full Idea

Russell (and Frege) thought that Mill was wrong about names: really a proper name, properly used, simply was a definite description abbreviated or disguised.

Gist of Idea

Russell says names are not denotations, but definite descriptions in disguise

Source

report of Bertrand Russell (On Denoting [1905]) by Saul A. Kripke - Naming and Necessity lectures Lecture 1

Book Reference

Kripke,Saul: 'Naming and Necessity' [Blackwell 1980], p.27


A Reaction

It is tempting to oversimplify this issue, one way or the other, but essentially one has to agree with Kripke that naming does not inherently involve description, but is a 'baptism', without initial content. Connotations and descriptions accrue to a name.