Being Sceptical about Kripkean A Posteriori Necessities and Natural Kinds

The article discusses Saul Kripke’s influential theories of a posteriori necessary truths and natural kinds. With respect to the statements identity involving proper names, it is argued that although their truth in specific sense counterfactual invariance, this no significance for substantial philosophical issues beyond philosophy language, because invariance trivial consequence use names as rigid designators. case made expansion realm theoretical involve “natural kind terms”, well Kripkean essentialist theory kinds, have weighty argumentative support fit badly both with science language practice. This sets stage development an appropriately sophisticated “descriptivist” account meaning reference would be better suited widened range Kripke-Putnam style thought experiments. general outlines such descriptivist are provided.