Fictional Objects [Hardcover]

Eleven original essays discuss a range of puzzling philosophical questions about characters in fiction and other fictional objects. For example: Do they really exist? Are they created? Can they be destroyed? Are they abstract or concrete? What are their identity conditions? What kinds of attitudes can we have towards them?Eleven original essays discuss a range of puzzling philosophical questions about fictional characters, and more generally about fictional objects. For example, they ask questions like the following: Do they really exist? What would fictional objects be like if they existed? Do they exist eternally? Are they created? Who by? When and how? Can they be destroyed? If so, how? Are they abstract or concrete? Are they actual? Are they complete objects? Are they possible objects? How many fictional objects are there? What are their identity conditions? What kinds of attitudes can we have towards them? This volume will be a landmark in the philosophical debate about fictional objects, and will influence higher-level debates within metaphysics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language.Introduction,STUART BROCK AND ANTHONY EVERETT1. A Reconsidered Defense of Haecceitism Regarding Fictional Individuals,WILLIAM G. LYCAN2. Objects of Fiction and Objects of Thought,ROBERT HOWELL3. Wondering About Witches,DAVID BRAUN4. The Philosopher's Stone and Other Mythical Objects,NATHAN SALMON5. A Suitable Metaphysics for Fictional Entities: Why One Has to Run Syncretistically,ALBERTO VOLTOLINI6. Creationism and the Problem of Indiscernible Fictional Objects,FREDERICK KROON7. Brutal Identity,BEN CAPLAN AND CATHLEEN MULLER8. The Importance of Fictional Properties,SARAH SAWYER9. Fictionalism, Fictional Characters, and Fictional Inference,STUART BROCK10. Fictional Discourse and Fictionalisms,AMIE L. THOMASSON11. Ideas for Stories,ANTHONY EVERETT AND TIMOTHY SCHROlsM