Single Idea 10447

[catalogued under 19. Language / B. Reference / 1. Reference theories]

Full Idea

If fictional entities, such as characters in a play, are real, albeit abstract entities, then we can genuinely refer to them.

Gist of Idea

We can refer to fictional entities if they are abstract objects

Source

Kent Bach (What Does It Take to Refer? [2006], 22.1)

Book Reference

'Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Language', ed/tr. Lepore,E/Smith,B [OUP 2008], p.534


A Reaction

[He cites Nathan Salmon 1998] Personally I would prefer to say that abstract entities are fictions. Fictional characters have uncertain identity conditions. Do they all have a pancreas, if this is never mentioned?

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