Full Idea
Statement representing scientific discoveries about what this stuff (gold) is are not contingent truths but necessary truths in the strictest possible sense.
Gist of Idea
Scientific discoveries about gold are necessary truths
Source
Saul A. Kripke (Naming and Necessity lectures [1970], Lecture 3)
Book Reference
Kripke,Saul: 'Naming and Necessity' [Blackwell 1980], p.125
A Reaction
People take him to mean 'metaphysically necessary' here. How do we distinguish the 'scientific' discoveries, which are necessary, from the more casual discoveries, which may not be? Presumably being yellow is also necessary?