counterpart theory

Definitions

1. 1

   An alternative to standard possible worlds semantics in which an individual can exist in…

   An alternative to standard possible worlds semantics in which an individual can exist in only one world, while other possible worlds contain (different) counterparts to that individual, and in which the modality operators (necessity, possibility) are replaced by quantifiers over possible worlds.

   • If counterpart theory calls for the rejection of some popular modal principles, that needn't worry us. But if it forces us to reject principles of the logic of identity and quantification, that is more serious.
   • According to counterpart theory, Humphrey himself has the modal property, might have won the election, in virtue of his counterpart having the (non-modal) property, won the election.

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