Quote: the causal theory of names states that a name denotes an item if there is a causal chain of reference-preserving links; e.g., dubbing [»evanG_1973]

Quote: naming by an initial 'baptism' and then passed from person to person with an intension to keep the reference fixed [»kripSA_1980]

Quote: the name of a baby is spread by a chain of using the name in sorts of talk [»kripSA_1980]

Quote: Feynman is identified by a chain of communication back to Feynman himself; not by a declarative ceremony in private [»kripSA_1980]

Quote: in the casual theory of names, reference is fixed by intentional content

Quote: in Kripke's casual theory of names, each speaker must intend to refer to the same object as the person who taught the name [»searJR_1983]

Quote: names as description is primary over the causal theory because only the former guarantees a fixed reference

Quote: the causal theory of names is incorrect; e.g., a tribe where every name is known by ostension and hence description [»searJR_1983]

Quote: the causal theory of names sets no constraints on the reference; e.g., 'Aristotle' might refer to a bar stool if that's where the chain lead to [»searJR_1983]

Quote: Madagascar originally referred to the mainland until Marco Polo accidentally used it for an island; the casual chain is not sufficient [»searJR_1983]

Quote: suppose someone only knows that Thales was a Greek philosopher but Aristotle actually used 'Thales' for a well digger; 'Thales' still wouldn't be the well digger [»searJR_1983]

Quote: Kripke's casual theory of names only reaches to the baptism of an object, but not the object itself [»searJR_1983]

Quote: say two babies are swapped at birth; then the baby dubbed with a name is not the person indicated by the name; intention part of names [»evanG_1973]

Quote: can use a proper name even though no causal connection to an object; e.g., M Street in Washington or the names of numbers [»searJR_1983]

Quote: the causal relation of names lies between the item's states and doings and the speaker's body of information; not dubbing [»evanG_1973]

Quote: consider an urn containing mathematical proofs and signed by Ibn Khan; "Khan proved that.." but could be a scribe [»evanG_1973]

Quote: say an identical twin impersonates a slightly known person; then our knowledge is about the twin and not the original person [»evanG_1973]

Quote: the causal chain of communication for naming is simply an external view of names that are known via others [»searJR_1983]

Quote: could talk about 'Plotinus' even though only heard his name mentioned; but the reference is parasitic on other speakers [»searJR_1983]

Quote: proper names can have prominent uses not based on acquaintance; constrained regardless of chain of communication, e.g., 'Japan' could not refer to a butterfly [»searJR_1983]

Quote: the most important names are for frequent, personal contacts; though learned from other people, a reference does not depend on others [»searJR_1983]