The Discussion And Analysis Of Kripke's Causal (Historical) Theory Of Naming

In this thesis, the author selects Kripke's Naming and Necessity as his major study, and tries to make an objective and rational discussion about Kripke's causal (historical) theory of naming. As a theory that is transited from the traditional theory and enlightens the research on the modern reference theory, the causal (historical) theory of naming is an important stage of Philosophy of Language Studies on the reference theory. The study of the causal (historical) theory of naming has important theoretical and practical value. This thesis mainly explores the following three aspects:First, Kripke's comments on theories of proper names and descriptions. They are the basis and conditions for Kripke to come up with the causal (historical) theory of naming. Here include three points: (1) the theories of proper names and descriptions; (2) Kripke's comments on the theories of proper names and descriptions; and (3) the issues of referential opacity in modal context.Second, Kripke's causal (historical) theory of naming, which includes the following four aspects: (1) the designator theory; (2) baptism; (3) Kripke's essentialism; and (4) how Kripke solves the issues of referential opacity in modal context.Third, the evaluations of Kripke's causal (historical) theory of naming. The author mainly analyses it from the following three aspects: (1) the significance of Kripke's causal (historical) theory of naming; (2) the limitations of Kripke's causal (historical) theory of naming; and (3) the rethinking about the limitations of Kripke's causal (historical) theory of naming.