Frege's referential dualism concerning proper names

Abstract

In order to establish an adequate conceptual framework for the discussion of the referential mechanisms concerning Fregean proper names, it is argued that Frege held the view that definite descriptions in subject-position generate 'semantic prerequisites' and that such semantic prerequisites are in fact semantic presuppositions in a sense similar to that expounded by Strawson in “On Referring”. In addition, it is argued that Frege's account referential mechanism involved by definite descriptions in subject-position is entirely diferente from the one involved by simple proper names, which do not envolve semantic presuppositions, but only a semantic principle'. This entails that the Fregean 'proper names' actually play two distinct referential roles in language. Finally, some consequences of this interpretation arelisted, as suggestions for further discussion within the renewed framework.