Single Idea 2341

[catalogued under 19. Language / B. Reference / 3. Direct Reference / a. Direct reference]

Full Idea

It seems that the dominant "component" of natural kind words is the extension. The referential factor does almost all the work, and natural kind terms resemble names.

Gist of Idea

Like names, natural kind terms have their meaning fixed by extension and reference

Source

Hilary Putnam (Representation and Reality [1988], §3 p.49)

Book Reference

Putnam,Hilary: 'Representation and Reality' [MIT 1992], p.49


A Reaction

My concept of 'tiger' does not mainly consist of the tigers. Does the concept contract as the tiger population dwindles? Prototypes, exemplars etc. See 'Concepts'