metaphysics 1 fictions
TRANSCRIPT
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Introduction to Metaphysics
Alexander Bird
What are Fictions?
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if a declarative statement of subject-predicate form is true,
then the object denoted by the subject satisfies the predicate
nQueen Victoria is a woman
satisfies is a woman
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et
Sherlock Holmes is a detective
Sherlock Homes is a man
Sherlock Holmes lives at 221B BakerStreet
true
er
Sherlock Holmes is a window cleaner
Sherlock Holmes is a woman
Sherlock Holmes lives in Slough
false
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eSherlock Holmes is a detective
predicates is a detective of . . . .Sherlock Holmes?
if a declarative statement of subject-predicate form is true,
then the object denoted by the subject satisfies the predicate
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satisfies is a detective
eSherlock Holmes is a detective
if a declarative statement of subject-predicate form is true,
then the object denoted by the subject satisfies the predicate
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What is the truthmaker for fictional sentences?
which features of the world makes it true
that Sherlock Holmes is a detective?
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eSherlock Holmes is a detective
true logical form
veIn fiction, Sherlock Holmes is a detective
e)F(Sherlock Holmes is a detective)
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)F(Sherlock Holmes is a detective)
F
. .According to [established or contextually salient] fiction . . . .
)F(Conan Doyles Sherlock Homes stories)(Moriarty is a criminal mastermind)
F )F(Ancient Greek mythology)(Pegasus is a flying horse)
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F
. .According to [established or contextually salient] fiction . . . .
F(p) is not the same as In fiction it is written thatp
because works of fiction draw upon a background of actual facts
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F )F(Sherlock Holmes lives within three miles of TrafalgarSquare)
is true but not explicitly stated; it is required for
understanding the work of fiction
but not allactual truths can be included in F
(e.g. we dont want to include the fact that no detectivehas actually ever lived at 221B BakerStreet)
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FX(p)
In the nearest possible world where
(most of) the fictional writings X are true,
p
the possible world view of fictions
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what about:
Sherlock Holmes does not exist
Sherlock Holmes was admired by many readers,
who did not know he was fictional
question
?when does a sentence involve a hidden F operator?
answer?
rwhen a sentence mentions a fictional character
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Alexius Meinong
different degrees of existence
Some non-existence objects nonetheless subsist
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what are possible worlds?
are they real?
yes says David Lewis
no says almost everyone else
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Fictionalism
fictional entities
non-actual possible objectspossible worlds
abstract objects
treat as fictions
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"There is a (non-actual) possible world at which
there are blue swans
"There is a brilliant detective at 221b Baker
Street"
Gideon Rosen: should be treated alike
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what things can be fictions?
There are aliens on Earth
Most of your friends are aliens
We can travel faster than light
We can travel in time
2+2=5
Its okay to torture innocent children but wicked to feed the poor
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There is a (non-actual) possible world at which there are blue swans
true logical form
FPW(There is a (non-actual) possible world at which there are blue swans)
FPW(p) = according to the fiction of possible worlds,p
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FX(p)
In the nearest possible world where
(most of) the fictional writings X are true,
p
FSH(Sherlock Holmes is a cocaine addict)
In the nearest possible world where
SH stories are true, Sherlock Holmes is a cocaine addict
Sherlock Holmes is a cocaine addict
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In the nearest possible world where
SH stories are true, Sherlock Holmes is a cocaine addict
FPW(in the nearest possible world where
SH stories are true, Sherlock Holmes is a cocaine addict)
FX(p)
In the nearest possible world where
(most of) the fictional writings X are true,
p
In the nearest possible world where the fiction of possible worlds
is true, in the nearest possible world where SH stories are true,
Sherlock Holmes is a cocaine addict
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In the nearest possible world where the fiction of possible worlds
is true, in the nearest possible world where SH stories are true,
Sherlock Holmes is a cocaine addict
FPW(In the nearest possible world where the fiction of possible
worlds is true, in the nearest possible world where SH stories
are true, Sherlock Holmes is a cocaine addict)
In the nearest possible world where the fiction of
possible worlds is true (in the nearest possible world
where the fiction of possible worlds is true, in thenearest possible world where SH stories are true,
Sherlock Holmes is a cocaine addict)
. . . . infiniteregress . . .
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fictions
analysed in terms of . . .
possible worlds
analysed in terms of . . .
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further reading
http://www.seop.leeds.ac.uk/entries/fictionalism-modal/