On the Role of Past Tense in Resolving Similarity in Counterfactuals

Abstract

In this paper I investigate the semantics of counterfactual conditionals. I propose a generalized de re analysis according to which counterfactuals are predicated de re of situations in the actual world. I compare the resulting local view of similarity with the global view found in Lewis-Stalnaker style proposals, presenting arguments in favor of the former. In the de re analysis, past tense identifies the actual world situation the counterfactual is about.