The semantics of fictional names

Pacific Philosophical Quarterly 78 (2):128–148 (1997)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

In this paper we defend a direct reference theory of names. We maintain that the meaning of a name is its bearer. In the case of vacuous names, there is no bearer and they have no meaning. We develop a unified theory of names such that one theory applies to names whether they occur within or outside fiction. Hence, we apply our theory to sentences containing names within fiction, sentences about fiction or sentences making comparisons across fictions. We then defend our theory against objections and compare our view to the views of Currie, Walton, and others.

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 101,934

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Fictional Reports A Study on the Semantics of Fictional Names.Fiora Salis - 2010 - Theoria: Revista de Teoría, Historia y Fundamentos de la Ciencia 25 (2):175-185.
Cognitive Value and Theories in Semantics.Ram Chandra Majhi - 1994 - Dissertation, The University of Rochester
Fictional names in psychologistic semantics.Emar Maier - 2017 - Theoretical Linguistics 43 (1-2):1-46.
What's in a (n empty) name?Fred Adams & Laura A. Dietrich - 2004 - Pacific Philosophical Quarterly 85 (2):125-148.
Referential intentions and ordinary names in fiction.Jeonggyu Lee - 2023 - Philosophical Studies 180 (3):1059-1079.
An Inferentialist Account of Fictional Names.Byeong D. Lee - 2022 - Organon F: Medzinárodný Časopis Pre Analytickú Filozofiu 29 (3):290–326.

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
268 (#101,509)

6 months
9 (#531,592)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author Profiles

Fred Adams
University of Delaware
Robert Stecker
Central Michigan University
Gary Fuller
Central Michigan University

Citations of this work

Fictional characters.Stacie Friend - 2007 - Philosophy Compass 2 (2):141–156.
Speaking of fictional characters.Amie L. Thomasson - 2003 - Dialectica 57 (2):205–223.
The great beetle debate: A study in imagining with names.Stacie Friend - 2011 - Philosophical Studies 153 (2):183-211.
Proper Names and their Fictional Uses.Heidi Tiedke - 2011 - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 89 (4):707 - 726.

View all 42 citations / Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references