Tutorial #10. Kripke on Names. Discussion Questions

After having read the relevant parts of Naming and Necessity think about these questions.

• What is the difference between a priori-a posteriori and necessary-contingent?
• Kripke argues that some a priori propositions are contingent. Do you find his argument convincing?
• What is Kripke’s argument against Frege and Russell? Why does he think that names do not have some form of descriptive meaning?
• What reasons does Kripke have for claiming that names are rigid designators?
• How does it happen that 'Pegasus' is a non-referring name at our world?
• How are contingent identity statements possible?
• Are mental states identical to brain states for Kripke?
• What’s essential to pain? Could pain be painless?