<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Singular terms used in fictions for fictional characters raise well-known philosophical issues, explored in depth in the literature. But philosophers typically assume that names already in use to refer to “moderatesized specimens of dry goods” cause no special problem when occurring in fictions, behaving there as they ordinarily do in straightforward assertions. In this paper I continue a debate with Stacie Friend, arguing against this for the <italic>exceptionalist</italic> view that names of real entities in fictional discourse don’t work there as they do in simple-sentence assertions, but rather as fictional names do.</p></abstract>

Singular terms used in fictions for fictional characters raise well-known philosophical issues, explored in depth in the literature. But philosophers typically assume that names already in use to refer to “moderatesized specimens of dry goods” cause no special problem when occurring in fictions, behaving there as they ordinarily do in straightforward assertions. In this paper I continue a debate with Stacie Friend, arguing against this for the exceptionalist view that names of real entities in fictional discourse don’t work there as they do in simple-sentence assertions, but rather as fictional names do.

Singular Reference in Fictional Discourse?

Disputatio

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Singular Reference in Fictional Discourse?"}

Singular terms used in fictions for fictional characters raise well-known philosophical issues, explored in depth in the literature. But philosophers typically...

Singular Reference in Fictional Discourse?

Published Online: May 13, 2020

Page range: 143 - 177

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/disp-2019-0015

Keywords
Fictional reference, empty names, fictional characters, fiction, reference

© 2020 Manuel García-Carpintero, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Singular Reference in Fictional Discourse?

Published Online: May 13, 2020

Page range: 143 - 177

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/disp-2019-0015

KeywordsFictional reference, empty names, fictional characters, fiction, reference

© 2020 Manuel García-Carpintero, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Fictional reference, empty names, fictional characters, fiction, reference