No it isn't. If it were, then it would be impossible for anywhere else to be the capital, which it isn't. Paris is not defined as the capital of France, although it is the capital. — The Great Whatever
I don't know what you mean. Can it be false right now that Paris is not the capital of France? Well, no, since it is. Can it be false right now that it's sunny in some location? Well, it either is sunny or it isn't, so it either can or it can't be, but I don't know which one. — The Great Whatever
I don't agree; under the current and past definition it is the capital of France. — John
Yeah, sameYeh I don't get the views that Paris is necessarily the Capital of France, if we are using Kripke's modal logic. — shmik
Read Kripke's remarks about Nixon in NN. They make the same point I'm making here, contradict what you're saying, and are integral to the point he's making and the notion of rigid designation. — The Great Whatever
I told you that all you have to do is decide that the object you're calling "France" must have Paris as its capital. — Mongrel
Regardless of all of this, it's not a matter of linguistic stipulation what properties are essential to an individual, if any. — The Great Whatever
And clearly, we can imagine Paris not being the capital of France, so I don't see what the problem is. — The Great Whatever
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