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Single Idea 15533

[filed under theme 5. Theory of Logic / G. Quantification / 4. Substitutional Quantification ]

Full Idea

Substitutionalists simulate quantification over fictional characters by quantifying for real over fictional names.

Gist of Idea

We can quantify over fictions by quantifying for real over their names

Source

David Lewis (Noneism or Allism? [1990], p.159)

Book Ref

Lewis,David: 'Papers in Metaphysics and Epistemology' [CUP 1999], p.159

A Reaction

I would say that a fiction is a file of conceptual information, identified by a label. The label brings baggage with it, and there is no existence in the label.

The 4 ideas from 'Noneism or Allism?'

15532 'Allists' embrace the existence of all controversial entities; 'noneists' reject all but the obvious ones [Lewis]
15533 We can quantify over fictions by quantifying for real over their names [Lewis]
15534 We could quantify over impossible objects - as bundles of properties [Lewis]
15535 We can't accept a use of 'existence' that says only some of the things there are actually exist [Lewis]