Single Idea 17051

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / G. Biology / 5. Species]

Full Idea

The original concept of cat is: that kind of thing, where the kind can be identified by paradigmatic instances.

Gist of Idea

The original concept of 'cat' comes from paradigmatic instances

Source

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

Book Reference

Kripke,Saul: 'Naming and Necessity' [Blackwell 1980], p.122


A Reaction

Kripke evokes Putnam at this point, since he is famous for this proposal. Note that Kripke uses the plural, invoking more than one instance. Presumably we must abstract the fur colours from the instances?