Single Idea 16994

[catalogued under 10. Modality / E. Possible worlds / 3. Transworld Objects / c. Counterparts]

Full Idea

Probably Humphrey could not care less whether someone else, no matter how much resembling him, would have been victorious in another possible world. Thus Lewis's view seems even more bizarre that the usual transworld identification it replaces.

Clarification

Humphrey lost an election to be U.S. President

Gist of Idea

Counterpart theory is bizarre, as no one cares what happens to a mere counterpart

Source

comment on David Lewis (Counterpart theory and Quant. Modal Logic [1968]) by Saul A. Kripke - Naming and Necessity notes and addenda note 13

Book Reference

Kripke,Saul: 'Naming and Necessity' [Blackwell 1980], p.45


A Reaction

I begin to see this as a devastating reply to a theory I previously found quite congenial.

Related Idea

Idea 11979 It doesn't take the whole of a possible Humphrey to win the election [Lewis]