Zeke Gabrielle H.

Rosales
AB – Philosophy III

Answer every numbered question (including its follow-up question) in not more than 100
words.
1. What is the basic idea of direct reference theory of meaning? Why is it included in
the referential theories of meaning?
Direct Reference (DR) Theory is an expression, like a name, sign, or a word,
directly referring to its referent or the object it’s referring to. The name is a label latched
to that object which serves as your identifier, even without any provided context. Even if
the referent itself has undergone a significant change in any aspect, this name will still
refer to that object.

2. What is the specific point of JS Mill, Saul Kripke, and Bertrand Russell in their
respective position for direct reference theory of meaning?
Mill declared proper names as rigid. They are labels that are used to a particular
object and can still be understood as referent to that specific object even without context,
calling it as “Millian names”. Meanwhile, though Russell’s view seemed opposed to the
DR theory, he’s in favor with it. He only opposed that proper names aren’t Millian names
since someone can name their own dog “Jose Rizal”, which would make two referent
objects in reality. Lastly, Kripke opposed Russell and contended by saying that proper
names are rigid designators, not Millian names, since not all Millian names are rigid.

3. Identify three problems of the direct reference theory and explain each problem.
In line with Frege’s objection, he contends that there are words that are referent to the
same object, but would entirely mean differently. Like “Defensor Miriam Santiago” and
“The Philippine President we never had”. Secondly, there are referents that refer to non-
existent objects like fairies, the Easter Rabbit, and mermaids. Thirdly, there are also
referents that refer to adjectives. In the sentence, “John is smart,” we cannot eventually
equate John to the word, “smart”. Moreover, it is difficult to refer the word “smart” to an
existing corporeal object.