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    Carmelics

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
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    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Proper names, unlike common nouns, do not convey any descriptive content that would be false if the bearer lacked the associated properties.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Names acquire meaning through historical-causal chains involving descriptions; we identify bearers only via associated properties.
      ?

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    • 2.Proper names in sentences like 'Socrates was wise' presuppose existence and some minimal identifying descriptions to refer.
      ?

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    • 3.Names function pragmatically as disguised definite descriptions that would fail reference if bearers lacked identifying properties.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Names like 'Aristotle' refer rigidly to individuals across possible worlds regardless of their properties or descriptions.
      ?

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    • 2.We can coherently imagine 'Aristotle' existing without being a philosopher, yet we'd still refer to the same person.
      ?

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    • 3.Common nouns like 'teacher' logically require bearer possession of teaching properties; names do not require any properties.
      ?

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