[Saul Aaron Kripke](http://wikipedia.org/en/Saul_Kripke) (November 13, 1940 – September 15, 2022) was an eminent American philosopher and logician. His work has had a profound impact on several areas within analytic philosophy, particularly in the philosophy of language, metaphysics, and logic. ### Early Life and Education Saul Kripke was born in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, and displayed prodigious intellectual abilities from a young age. By the age of six, he had taught himself Ancient Hebrew, and by nine, he had read all of Shakespeare's works. He wrote his first completeness theorem in modal logic at just 17, which was published when he was a freshman at Harvard University. He graduated from Harvard in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics (the only non-honorary degree he received) and soon began a prolific career in both teaching and research​ ([Encyclopedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saul-Kripke))​​ ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Kripke))​. ### Academic Career Kripke held teaching positions at several prestigious institutions: - **Rockefeller University** (1968–1976) - **Princeton University** (1976–1998), where he served as McCosh Professor of Philosophy - **City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center** (2003 onwards), where he was a Distinguished Professor​ ([Saul Kripke Center](https://saulkripkecenter.org/index.php/saul-a-kripke/))​​ ([Princeton Scholar](https://skripke.scholar.princeton.edu/))​. ### Major Contributions #### Modal Logic and Kripke Semantics Kripke is best known for his groundbreaking work in modal logic. He developed **Kripke semantics**, also known as relational semantics or frame semantics, which provides a formal framework for understanding modal logic, including concepts of necessity and possibility. This work laid the foundation for much of modern modal and non-classical logic​ ([Routledge Encyclopedia](https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/biographical/kripke-saul-aaron-1940/v-1))​. #### Naming and Necessity His most influential work, **"Naming and Necessity"** (published in 1980), revolutionized the philosophy of language and metaphysics. In this work, Kripke challenged the descriptivist theory of reference that was dominant at the time, proposing instead a causal theory of reference. He introduced the notion of "rigid designators" and provided novel insights into the nature of necessity and identity, distinguishing metaphysical necessity from epistemological and linguistic concepts​ ([Encyclopedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saul-Kripke))​​ ([Routledge Encyclopedia](https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/biographical/kripke-saul-aaron-1940/v-1))​. #### Wittgenstein Interpretation Kripke's book **"Wittgenstein on Rules and Private Language"** presents a unique interpretation of Ludwig Wittgenstein's later work. This interpretation, often referred to as "Kripkenstein," introduces a skeptical paradox regarding rule-following and meaning, which has sparked extensive debate and analysis in philosophical circles​ ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Kripke))​. ### Honors and Legacy Throughout his career, Kripke received numerous honors, including honorary degrees from institutions such as the University of Nebraska, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Haifa, and the University of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the American Philosophical Society and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2001, he was awarded the Rolf Schock Prize in Logic and Philosophy​ ([Routledge Encyclopedia](https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/biographical/kripke-saul-aaron-1940/v-1))​​ ([Princeton Scholar](https://skripke.scholar.princeton.edu/))​. ### Personal Life and Death Kripke was married to philosopher Margaret Gilbert. He passed away on September 15, 2022, in Plainsboro, New Jersey, due to pancreatic cancer at the age of 81​ ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Kripke))​​ ([Saul Kripke Center](https://saulkripkecenter.org/index.php/saul-a-kripke/))​. For more detailed information on Saul Kripke's life and work, you can visit [Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saul-Kripke), the [Saul Kripke Center](https://saulkripkecenter.org/index.php/saul-a-kripke/), and his [Wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Kripke). # References ```dataview Table title as Title, authors as Authors where contains(authors, "Saul Kripke" ) or contains(publisher, "Saul Kripke" ) or contains(subject, "Saul Kripke" ) or contains(subject, "Analytical Philosophy" ) sort title, subject, modified ```