Let's call something a rigid designator if in every…
“Let's call something a rigid designator if in every possible world it designates the same object, a non-rigid or accidental designator if that is not the case. Of course we don't require that the objects exist in all possible worlds… When we think of a property as essential to an object we usually mean that it is true of that object in any case where it would have existed. A rigid designator of a necessary existent can be called strongly rigid.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Rigid designators refer to the same object in all possible worlds; non‑rigid ones do not. Essential properties hold across all possible worlds.
In simple terms: Some names always point to the same thing; others can change.
Key Takeaway
Identify truly essential attributes.
Themes
philosophy
language
logic
identity
modalities
Mood
analytical
technical
Type
philosophical
academic
When to use this quote
- legal definitions
- software naming
- scientific classification
Key Concepts
rigidity
essentialism
possible worlds
reference theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What terms in your field are truly rigid?
- How do you handle ambiguous references?
A Different Perspective
Rigid terms may be misapplied when contexts shift.