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Michelle Martinez
Philosophy 135
December 18, 2001

Take-Home Final Exam

1. Kripke presents two accounts (or ways of explaining) the distinction between referential and attributive uses of definite descriptions. What are these two explanations? Explain the methodological principles that Kripke uses to decide between them.

2. There are two issues at stake in the debate between Kripke and the descriptivist about proper names. These are (i) what determines what a speaker refers to when she uses a name and (ii) are names synonymous with definite descriptions. Explain the Kripkean and descriptivist positions on these issues.