more from David Lewis

Single Idea 11975

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

Full Idea

If whatever thing in world w6 it is that resembles you more closely than anything else in w6 is nevertheless quite unlike you; nothing in w6 resembles you at all closely. If so, you have no counterpart in w6.

Gist of Idea

If the closest resembler to you is in fact quite unlike you, then you have no counterpart

Source

David Lewis (Counterpart theory and Quant. Modal Logic [1968], I)

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'Philosophical Papers Vol.1' [OUP 1983], p.29


A Reaction

This is the nub, because the whole theory rests on deciding whether two things resemble sufficiently 'closely'. But then we need a criterion of closeness, so we must start talking about which properties matter. Essences loom.