Shortcomings of the Indexical Model of Proper Names

Abstract

 I discuss here a model for the meaning of proper names developed, mainly, by Récanati and García-Carpintero. In this model, proper names are indexical terms, having a rule that describes the referent as being called “N”. My discussion focuses on the notion of linguistic meaning, the controversy about indexicality/ ambiguity, the generality argument, the claimed non-linguistic nature of naming conventions, and the role of the metalinguistic property in explaining the speakers’ linguistic competence. Finally, I criticize the indexical solution to the problem of understanding and the transmission of knowledge.