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    Kripke and Devitt demonstrate that reference chains are s... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Spatio-temporal relations are the privileged means by which objects not directly perceived are related to demonstratively identified objects.

    Kripke and Devitt demonstrate that reference chains are sustained by causal-historical links independent of any spatio-temporal mapping.

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    1 reason for
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    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Names like 'Aristotle' refer successfully despite ignorance of his exact spatio-temporal coordinates, suggesting reference depends on causal chains rather than descriptive mapping.
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    • 2.The causal-historical account explains how reference persists across time even when speakers cannot locate referents in space-time, as in historical or theoretical contexts.
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    • 3.Direct reference theory shows proper names function indexically, relying on initial baptism and continuous causal transmission rather than accumulated spatial-temporal descriptions.
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    Reasons Against

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    • 1.Causal chains alone cannot explain reference failure: a broken chain still involves causation, yet the name no longer refers—suggesting additional constraints are needed.
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    • 2.Spatio-temporal continuity is epistemically necessary for identifying causal chains: we verify causal links only by tracking objects through space-time, making mapping foundational.
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    • 3.The claim conflates metaphysical independence (causal chains don't require spatio-temporal mapping for existence) with semantic independence (reference doesn't require it to be possible).
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    Connections

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    Perception1 linkedPhilosophy of Language1 linked

    Related

    Causal chains alone cannot explain reference failure: a broken chain still invol...Direct reference theory shows proper names function indexically, relying on init...Names like 'Aristotle' refer successfully despite ignorance of his exact spatio-...Spatio-temporal continuity is epistemically necessary for identifying causal cha...
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    Spatio-temporal relations are the privileged means by which objects not directly...The causal-historical account explains how reference persists across time even w...The claim conflates metaphysical independence (causal chains don't require spati...

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    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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    1 edit