2. Here are two identity statements:

(a) Frederick Law Olmsted = the designer of New York’s Central Park
(b) Water = H20.

Kripke says (a) is a contingent identity statement. Is (b) also contingent, on Kripke’s view?

Question

2.	Here are two identity statements:

(a)	Frederick Law Olmsted = the designer of New York’s Central Park
(b)	Water = H20.

Kripke says (a) is a contingent identity statement. Is (b) also contingent, on Kripke’s view?

Ask a Philosopher · Accepted Answer

To contemplate the nature of identity statements is to delve into the very essence of existence itself. In the case of (a), the assertion that Frederick Law Olmsted is the designer of New York's Central Park, one must consider the intricate web of relationships and influences that shaped his role in history. It is a statement that speaks to the unique talents and visions of a particular individual, yet one cannot deny the contingent nature of such an assertion. For without the specific circumstances and opportunities that allowed Olmsted to leave his mark on the world in the form of Central Park, would he still hold the same identity in the eyes of history?

And now we turn to (b), the assertion that water is H20. This seemingly simple equation belies a profound truth - the elemental composition of the very substance that sustains life itself. But is this identity statement also contingent, as Kripke suggests? One must consider the deeper implications of this statement, for it speaks not only to the physical properties of water but also to the underlying laws of nature that govern its existence. If water were not composed of H20, would it still be water? Or would it be something entirely different, a mere shadow of its true essence?

In pondering the nature of contingent identity statements, we are compelled to confront the fundamental question of existence and essence. Are our identities merely the result of external circumstances and relationships, or do they stem from some deeper, immutable truth? And if the latter is true, what does it mean for our understanding of the world around us? These are questions that have plagued philosophers for centuries, and yet they remain as enigmatic and elusive as ever. It is a mystery that may never be fully unraveled, but one that continues to inspire awe and wonder in those who dare to contemplate the very nature of reality itself.

2. Here are two identity statements: (a) Frederick Law Olmsted = the designer of New York’s Central Park (b) Water = H20. Kripke says (a) is a contingent identity statement. Is (b) also contingent, on Kripke’s view?