An Analysis on the Intentionality of Proper Names and the Context——Comments on Searle's Theory of Proper Name

Along with the development of his theory of intentionality,Searle's study of proper name transferred from theory of cluster descriptions into theory of cluster intentional contents.And his research direction also shifted from philosophy of language to philosophy of mind.Searle believes that the sense of proper name is intentional contents and its reference is determined by a causal-history chain of intentional contents.This paper shows that the essence of intentional contents is psychological,and therefore,is also personal which makes the meaning of proper name lose the property of public in Searle's theory.Moreover,I will show the necessity of combining the two kinds of causal-history chain by comparing and evaluating the causal-history theories of Searle,Kripke and Chen Xiaoping.