Questions for Gibbard article

1. In (1) on p. 100a, what does ◊ stand for?

2. Who is Gibbard setting up as his opponent? What is his oppenent’s view? What is Gibbard’s view?

3. On p. 101b, Gibbard writes “I shall give no exact standard of slowness here, but one might be stipulated if anything hinged on it.” Stipulate an exact standard of slowness.

4. Imagine the situation Gibbard describes on p. 102b where he brings Lumpl into existence before he shapes Goliath. Once he has created Goliath, why is Lumpl = Goliath not the case? They are made of exactly the same components, after all. Also, offer at least one property that Lumpl has that Goliath lacks, or vice versa.

5. What is a sortal? What are the criteria for determining what is a sortal and what is not?

6. According to Gibbard’s sortal theory, which of these identities are necessary and which are contingent? Offer support for your claim, including which sortal the identity is necessary with respect to (if it is necessary).
A. The inventor of the bifocals was the first postmaster general of the USA.
B. Hesperus is Phosphorus.
C. Cicero is Tully.
D. Heat is the motion of molecules.
E*. Pain is a certain brain state.