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    A proper name rigidly designates the same individual acro... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→The relation between a proper name and its referent is merely linguistic.

    A proper name rigidly designates the same individual across all possible worlds, tracking metaphysical identity rather than linguistic convention.

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    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Names like 'Aristotle' pick out the same person in counterfactuals where he lived differently, suggesting reference transcends descriptive content.
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    • 2.If names were just abbreviations for descriptions, two people could have identical properties yet different names—but names seem to track individuals, not bundles.
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    • 3.Scientific discoveries reveal that what we call 'water' is H₂O in all worlds where it exists, supporting that natural kind terms rigidly designate underlying essences.
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    Reasons Against

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    Reason against
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    • 1.We cannot verify metaphysical identity across possible worlds independent of our linguistic practices—rigid designation assumes access we lack epistemically.
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    • 2.Names acquire their reference through social convention and historical chains, not by metaphysical necessity—the same individual could be named 'Socrates' or 'Sokrates' in different worlds.
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    • 3.Identifying which possible world is 'the same individual' requires criteria (DNA, consciousness, spatiotemporal continuity) that are themselves contingent and context-dependent.
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    Identifying which possible world is 'the same individual' requires criteria (DNA...If names were just abbreviations for descriptions, two people could have identic...Names acquire their reference through social convention and historical chains, n...Names like 'Aristotle' pick out the same person in counterfactuals where he live...
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    Scientific discoveries reveal that what we call 'water' is H₂O in all worlds whe...The relation between a proper name and its referent is merely linguistic.We cannot verify metaphysical identity across possible worlds independent of our...

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    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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