With Reference to Characters

Abstract

In this chapter I will look at a series of problems relating to fictional media and, more specifically, reference to fictional characters. Much philosophical work has been done on fictional characters; as ‘the problem of nonexistents’ it figures as one of philosophy’s perennial concerns. But the area remains a very tangled one, and it is not easy to find a clear and inclusive statement of the problems, let alone any obviously correct answers to them. So I will spend some time marking out the problem areas in my own way. In some places they are easy to confuse. Also, some problems are more important than others from the point of view of this study.