The _Paraphilia_ Natural Kind Hypothesis Is Alive and Well: A Response to Lawrence (2026)

Lawrence (2026) is unpersuaded by Bailey and Hsu’s (2025) article, “Psychometric Evidence That Paraphilia Is a Natural Kind,” believing that the study shows the opposite. She thinks its conclusions are “erroneous” and “inexplicable.” However, Lawrence’s critique depends on a fundamental mistake about the notion of a natural kind. Responding to her critique provides an opportunity to try again, in view of what she and likely others do not understand.