Essence and Scientific Discovery in Kripke and Putnam

Abstract

THE CLAIM THAT IF GOLD HAS THE ATOMIC NUMBER 79 THEN GOLDNECESSARILY HAS THE ATOMIC NUMBER 79 IS SHOWN TO BE FALSE.THE KRIPKE-PUTNAM ARGUMENT FOR THIS CLAIM IS REWORKED TOSHOW THIS: IF A PROPERTY OF GOLD (LIKE ATOMIC NUMBER) PLAYSA BASIC ROLE IN A THEORY OF SUBSTANCE, THAT IS BOTH TRUEAND THE BEST MOST COMPREHENSIVE THEORY OF SUBSTANCEPOSSIBLE, THEN GOLD NECESSARILY HAS THIS PROPERTY. 'BASICROLE' IS EXPLAINED.