Single Idea 4944

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / c. Names as referential]

Full Idea

It is a well known doctrine of Mill that names have denotation but not connotation.

Clarification

'Denotation' points out something; 'connotation' adds associations to it

Gist of Idea

Mill says names have denotation but not connotation

Source

report of John Stuart Mill (System of Logic [1843]) by Saul A. Kripke - Naming and Necessity lectures Lecture 1

Book Reference

Kripke,Saul: 'Naming and Necessity' [Blackwell 1980], p.26


A Reaction

A nice starting point for any discussion of the topic. The obvious response is that a name like 'Attila the Hun' seems to have a very vague denotation for most of us, but a rather powerful connotation.