Shoemaker's no-reference-failure principle establishes that first-person mental ascriptions cannot misidentify their subject, removing one dimension along which TC-relevant counterfactuals could generate false belief.

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Key Terms

First-person mental ascriptions(the subject of Shoemaker's principle): Statements you make about your own mind, like 'I am thinking about pizza' or 'I feel happy'—basically, claims about what's going on in your own head.
Generate false belief(what counterfactuals could do without this principle): Create or produce a belief that is incorrect or mistaken.
Misidentify their subject(what the principle says cannot happen): Being wrong about *who* or *what* you're talking about—for example, thinking you're describing your own thoughts when you're actually describing someone else's.
No-reference-failure principle(core concept of the statement): A rule stating that when you talk about your own thoughts or feelings, you cannot be wrong about *which* thoughts or feelings you're referring to—you're always talking about your actual mental states, not someone else's.

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Shoemaker

A shoemaker is a craftsperson who designs, makes, and repairs shoes by hand or with tools. Historically, shoemakers were skilled artisans who would create custom footwear tailored to individual customers, though today the term can refer to anyone who professionally makes or fixes shoes. This trade is one of the oldest crafts, dating back centuries, and shoemakers were once central figures in communities before mass manufacturing took over shoe production.

Shoemaker's no-reference-failure principle establishes that first-person mental ascriptions cannot misidentify their subject, removing one dimension along which TC-relevant counterfactuals could generate false belief.

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