more on this theme | more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
Kripke's theory brought a social element into the function of language: a speaker is socially connected to others who may know far more than she does about the reference of her terms, and the mechanism of reference is now not in her mind, but is external.
Gist of Idea
Kripke makes reference a largely social matter, external to the mind of the speaker
Source
report of Saul A. Kripke (Naming and Necessity lectures [1970]) by Colin McGinn - The Making of a Philosopher Ch. 3
Book Ref
McGinn,Colin: 'The Making of a Philosopher' [Scribner 2003], p.71
A Reaction
Hence this theory of reference leads on to Putnam's 'wide content' and Twin Earth. I remain unconvinced. See ideas under 'Thought'.