Causal Theories of Reference for Proper Names

Presentation and comparison of the main causal theories of reference for proper names, and a proposal of a new approach based on the analogy of the causal chain of reference with the block chain from blockchain technology and Paul Ricœur's narrative theory. After a brief Introduction in which the types of sentences from the concept of possible worlds are reviewed, and an overview of the theory in the Causal Theory of Reference, I present the causal theory of the reference proposed by Saul Kripke, then two hybrid causal theories developed by Gareth Evans and Michael Devitt. In the section Blockchain and the causal tree of reference I present my idea of developing a new causal theory of reference for proper names through a causal tree of reference. In the Conclusions I talk about the further development of the ways in which the terms of reference could refer to certain objects and individuals, the main criticisms of the causal theories, and suggestions for future development.

CONTENTS:

Abstract
Introduction
1. The causal theory of reference
2. Saul Kripke
3. Gareth Evans
4. Michael Devitt
5. Blockchain and the causal tree of reference
Conclusions
Bibliografie

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.26330.90562