Abstract

The view that ordinary proper names are synonymous with definite descriptions is frequently attributed to Bertrand Russell. This 'synonymy thesis' is usually thought to involve three other theses: the 'determinist thesis', according to which the reference of an ordinary name is determined by some definite description that we associate with it, the 'essentialist thesis', according to which the definite description that determines the reference of an ordinary name must mention the qualitatively necessary and sufficient properties of the individual who bears the name, the 'truth-preservation thesis', which holds that the analysis of propositions containing ordinary names into propositions containing their replacement descriptions must preserve truth. I argue against this interpretation. I maintain that there is little textual basis for any of these theses and maintain that the correct interpretation contains an 'independence thesis', the view that the reference of an ordinary name is usually established independently of any description we might associate with it