Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

181338

Language, ontology, fiction

Frederick Kroon Alberto Voltolini

pp. 385-406

Abstract

This chapter is about ontological issues that arise in the context of discourse within and about fiction and fictional characters. Our main focus will be on the divide between broadly realist accounts of fictional characters (the entities supposedly designated by purely fictional terms) and broadly antirealist accounts. Understanding what is at stake requires a brief look both at the nature of fiction, and at the nature of fictional language, in particular the ways in which the semantics of fictional language raises ontological issues. We also consider some arguments that are more directly ontological. In the final section, we turn from ontology to metaphysics and look at the dominant realist theories of fictional objects.

Publication details

Published in:

Stocker Barry, Mack Michael (2018) The Palgrave handbook of philosophy and literature. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 385-406

DOI: 10.1057/978-1-137-54794-1_18

Full citation:

Kroon Frederick, Voltolini Alberto (2018) „Language, ontology, fiction“, In: B. Stocker & M. Mack (eds.), The Palgrave handbook of philosophy and literature, Dordrecht, Springer, 385–406.