Dear Haecceitism

If a counterpart theorist’s understanding of the counterpart relation precludes haecceitist differences between possible worlds, as David Lewis’s does, how can he admit haecceitist possibilities, as Lewis wants to? Lewis (Philosophical Review 3–32, 1983; On the Plurality of Worlds, 1986) devised what he called a ‘cheap substitute for haecceitism,’ which would allow for haecceitist possibilities while preserving the counterpart relation as a purely qualitative one. The solution involved lifting an earlier (Journal of Philosophy 65(5):113–126, 1968; 68(7):203–211, 1971) ban on there being multiple intra-world counterparts. I argue here that serious problems for ‘cheap haecceitism’ lurk very close to its surface, and they emerge when we consider the effect of using an actuality operator in our language. Among the most serious of the problems is the result that being the case in some possible world does not always suffice for possibly being the case. The result applies to any counterpart theory that employs a purely qualitative counterpart relation. The upshot is that if we are to admit haecceitist possibilities, as we should, then we must reject any purely qualitative relation as the one involved in the analysis of what might have been for an individual.

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It's Not Just a Headache,Dear

No abstract available for this article.     

Dear diary: logs in group counseling

Logs written by group members after a session can be a powerful tool in group counseling. This article explores the uses of logs and suggests how they can further the success of group counseling in all settings. If used properly they heighten the awareness of personal and group dynamics and smooth the flow of communication.     

法轮功害人不浅

我是法轮功痴迷者的家属,我母亲是高级知识分子,练法轮功六年多,至今没有转化,今年春节以前,被海淀分局第三次请进了海淀看守所,所以,这个春节我们全家过的很沉重,也很不平静.所以,我今天向会议申请,我作为一个受害者,揭批一下法轮功邪教的本质,再谈谈我自己的一孔之见.……     

缅怀恩师何永祥

2010年10月5日,我接到湖北仙桃市沔城镇玄妙观师兄的电话,他告诉我恩师何永祥已于凌晨3点羽化登真,我立即乘火车南下。当我第二天赶到玄妙观时,恩师的仙体已坐入灵堂正中的一个大缸内。我跪拜在灵堂中的缸前,思容颜而莫睹,忆恩情以难忘,思潮翻滚,心生悲切,很想再看他最后一眼,碍于礼节与师兄们的劝阻未能遂心。     

From the Editors

Journal of Medical Humanities -