• Shawn
    13.2k
    Kripke speaks about the de dicto and de re distinction in his work, Naming and Necessity.

    Can someone elucidate what they are about with respect to de jure and de facto?
  • counterpunch
    1.6k
    De jure - something that (legitimately) exists as a result of law.
    De facto - something that exists as a result of fact other than law.
    De dicto - what is said about the thing.
    De re - of the thing itself.

    Interesting question I had a little look at, and I can see how such distinctions might bear on intent.

    There was a case in England about the shooting of a police officer, who encountered two criminals.

    One pulled a gun.

    The police officer said: "Give me the gun!"

    The older criminal said: "Let him have it!" and the accomplice shot the cop.

    But did he mean: "Give the gun to the police officer."? Or did he mean: "Shoot the cop."?

    Does it depend on de-dicto / de-re interpretations of the verb 'have' as used in the sentence "Let him have it"?

    My grasp of this distinction is not great. I suspect it of the rankest subjectivism!

    I'm more certain that de facto - the defendant might be guilty by virtue of a string of similar offences, that - de jure, the jury are unaware of!

    I hope you get more replies. I'd like to understand this.
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