Semantic analysis of natural kind terms

This paper develops a model theoretic semantics for so called natural kind terms that reflects the viewpoint of (Kripke, 1980) and (Putnam, 1975). The semantics generates a formal counterpart of the K-mechanism investigated in (Salmon, 1981) and in unpublished work by Keith Donnellan.I would like to thank David Anderson, Bernard Linsky, Hilary Putnam, Nathan Salmon, Edward Zalta, and the participants of the 1992 SEP conference for much helpful discussion and encouragement regarding the project of this paper.