<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>How to interpret singular terms in fiction? In this paper, we address this semantic question from the perspective of the Artifactual Theory of Fiction (ATF). According to the ATF, fictional characters exist as abstract artifacts created by their author, and preserved through the existence of copies of an original work and a competent readership. We pretend that a well-suited semantics for the ATF can be defined with respect to a modal framework by means of Hintikka’s world lines semantics. The question of the interpretation of proper names is asked in relation to two inference rules, problematic when applied in intensional contexts: the Substitution of Identicals and Existential Generalization. The former fails because identity is contingent. The latter because proper names are not necessarily linked to well-identified individuals. This motivates a non-rigid interpretation of proper names in fiction, although cross-fictional reference (e.g. to real entities) is made possible by the interpretative efforts of the reader.</p></abstract>

How to interpret singular terms in fiction? In this paper, we address this semantic question from the perspective of the Artifactual Theory of Fiction (ATF). According to the ATF, fictional characters exist as abstract artifacts created by their author, and preserved through the existence of copies of an original work and a competent readership. We pretend that a well-suited semantics for the ATF can be defined with respect to a modal framework by means of Hintikka’s world lines semantics. The question of the interpretation of proper names is asked in relation to two inference rules, problematic when applied in intensional contexts: the Substitution of Identicals and Existential Generalization. The former fails because identity is contingent. The latter because proper names are not necessarily linked to well-identified individuals. This motivates a non-rigid interpretation of proper names in fiction, although cross-fictional reference (e.g. to real entities) is made possible by the interpretative efforts of the reader.

Singular Terms, Identity, and the Creation of Fictional Characters

Center for Philosophy of Sciences of the University of Lisbon Campo Grande

Disputatio

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

{"article-title":"Singular Terms, Identity, and the Creation of Fictional Characters"}

How to interpret singular terms in fiction? In this paper, we address this semantic question from the perspective of the Artifactual Theory of Fiction (ATF)....

Singular Terms, Identity, and the Creation of Fictional Characters

Published Online: May 13, 2020

Page range: 207 - 229

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/disp-2019-0017

Keywords
Artifactualism, fiction, world lines, substitution of identicals, existential generalization

© 2020 Matthieu Fontaine, published by Sciendo

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

Singular Terms, Identity, and the Creation of Fictional Characters

Published Online: May 13, 2020

Page range: 207 - 229

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/disp-2019-0017

KeywordsArtifactualism, fiction, world lines, substitution of identicals, existential generalization

© 2020 Matthieu Fontaine, published by Sciendo

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

Keywords
Artifactualism, fiction, world lines, substitution of identicals, existential generalization