Kripke and Santa Claus
  • Shawn
    13.3k
    By instantiating that Santa Claus exists, do we affirm his existence in the world as a real entity or as a myth?

    I have approached this issue from some angles that make better sense than others.

    Namely, Santa Claus exists as a myth. Nobody knows when his instantiation into the imagination of children originated, but, Saint Nickolas supposedly lives at the North Pole.

    Now, that aside, I have a specific question to linguistic philosophers. Namely, under the baptismal theory of truth, how is Santa Claus' existence instantiated?
    Shawn Options
  • Banno
    25.2k
    the baptismal theory of truth, — Shawn

    What's that?
    Banno Options
  • Shawn
    13.3k
    ↪Banno


    According to Kripke it's this:
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causal_theory_of_reference

    Not sure if it's a theory of truth altogether...

    With that said, Santa's baptism is still undocumented, with him thus being a myth, yes?
    Shawn Options
  • Banno
    25.2k
    Not sure if it's a theory of truth altogether... — Shawn

    That is a rather important bit.

    So you meant the causal theory of reference. That makes sense.

    SO your question is, who baptised Santa?

    Lost to history, I'm afraid. It was 1750 years ago.
    Banno Options
  • Shawn
    13.3k
    ↪Banno


    Must have been a conspiracy then.
    Shawn Options
  • Shawn
    13.3k
    Coca-Cola-Santa-Claus.jpg
    Santa loves Coca Cola.
    Shawn Options
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