Fiction and metaphysics cambridge university press, 1999, ordinary objects oxford university press. For decades getting a copy of these lectures has been a holy grail for philosophers working on fiction it will no doubt be a major influence on work in these areas for decades to come. Fiction and metaphysics this challenging study places fiction squarely at the center of the discussion of metaphysics. See, for example, amie thomasson, debates about the ontology of art. What would fictional objects be like if they existed. Analysis of amie thomasson s an anti factual theory. Most importantly, it doesnt just try to show how fictional characters may find a place in some preconceived ontology. Thomasson 1996 philosophy and phenomenological research 56 2. The essays in this collection aim to make sense of our talk about fictional characters, and more generally about fictional objects. Jaegwon kim, ernest sosa and gary rosenkrantz, blackwell, 2009.
Norms and necessity amie thomasson oxford university press. Amie thomasson the reference of fictional names traditional causal and descriptive theories of refer ence treat names offictional characters as nonrefer ring terms. Best sellers gift ideas new releases whole foods todays deals amazonbasics coupons gift cards customer service free shipping shopper toolkit registry sell. By contrast amie thomasson argues that fiction has farreaching implications for central problems of metaphysics. Buy phenomenology and philosophy of mind book by david. The american philosophical association is pleased to announce that professor amie thomasson dartmouth college has been awarded the 2017 sanders book prize for her book, ontology made easy oxford university press. Buy phenomenology and philosophy of mind online of indias largest online book store, only genuine products. The book develops an \artifactual\ theory of fiction, whereby fictional characters are abstract artifacts as ordinary as laws or symphonies or works of literature. Ordinary objects oxford university press, 2007 and fiction and metaphysics cambridge university press, 1999. Ontology made easy oxford university press, 2015, ordinary objects oxford university press, 2007, and fiction and metaphysics cambridge. Thomasson in a companion to metaphysics, second edition.
It is an interesting book and it has a lot to offer. Amie thomasson is the author of ordinary objects 4. Most importantly, it doesnt just try to show how fictional characters may find a. Amie thomasson is professor of philosophy and cooper fellow in the department of philosophy at the university of miami. At an annual american academy of religion conference thirty years ago, robert scharlemann presented a paper in which he compared and contrasted barth and tillich with reference to how they named god in their respective theologies. Smith a collection of essays, phenomenology and philosophy of mind oxford university press, 2005. Thomasson specializes in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, phenomenology and the philosophy of art. Thomasson, professor of philosophy at dartmouth college. Amie thomasson editor of phenomenology and philosophy of mind. It would have been petty to chide columbus for not finding a sea route to india. In addition to her books, she has published more than 60 book chapters and articles on topics in metaphysics, metaontology, fiction, philosophy of mind and. Amie is one of the leading figures in contemporary analytic metaphysics, having made hugely important contributions to debates concerning the metaphysics of fictional characters see her bookfiction and metaphysics cambridge university press, 1999 and. Religions free fulltext the no to nothing, and the.
A dialogue at the 2016 how the light gets in festival, at hayonwye, with rupert sheldrake, philosopher massimo pigliucci and cern physicist tara shears, chaired by philip ball. From iai, the institute of art and ideas philosophy for our times. The language, epistemology, metaphysics and mind research group welcomes amie l. Ontology made easy, ordinary objects and fiction and metaphysics. Reddit gives you the best of the internet in one place.
Apr 26, 2018 amie thomasson is professor of philosophy and cooper fellow in the department of philosophy at the university of miami. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. In addition, she has published more than 50 book chapters and articles on topics in metaphysics, metaontology, fiction. One could actually argue for the existence of a god of transcendence by adopting what i would call a transfictional theism, one formulated on a minimalist ontology that allows for god to be considered as an example of what amie thomasson calls an artifactual theory of fiction thomasson 2003, pp. The chapters in this volume take a variety of different perspectives on the metaphysics of fictionalia. Amie thomasson label from public data source wikidata sources found. Reference and existence, saul kripkes john locke lectures for 1973, can be read as a sequel to his classic naming and necessity. She is the author of ordinary objects and fiction and metaphysics, and coeditor with david w. Two recurrent worries arise for the artefactual theory of fiction. The first question to be addressed about fictional entities is. Nov, 1998 this challenging study places fiction squarely at the center of the discussion of metaphysics. Language, epistemology, metaphysics, and mind group talk. Ordinary objects is well worth reading because it sheds new light on how to preserve the credibility of familiar things.
Ama about metaphysics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of art. Ontology made easy oxford university press, 2015, ordinary objects oxford university press, 2007, and fiction and metaphysics cambridge university press, 1999. I grew up in rockville, maryland, in the washington d. Terry horgan, times literary supplement ordinary objects is a fine book thomasson writes insightfully and persuasively, and she has a realistic view of what metaphysical arguments can and cannot demonstrate. Philosophers have traditionally treated fiction as involving a set of narrow problems in logic or the philosophy of language. Thomasson, fictional characters and literary practices. The authors profited from generous suggestions and discussions with among others giuliano bacigalupo, francesco berto, nicolas clerbout, ivor grattanguiness, laurent keiff, mark sainsbury, graham priest, juan redmond, amie thomasson, tero tulenheimo, lucien vinciguerra and john woods some of whom do not share at all the ideas presented in the present. Accessible introduction to necessity, possibility, and metaphysics more generally. Revies a nondescriptive approach to modal discourse that has been neglected since the early 20th century. Analysis of amie thomasson s an anti factual theory bartleby. Published in french translation 2011 as fiction et metaphysique. Missing evidence can theories work without evidence.
Kripke goes still further to argue that fictional names cannot refer to any actual or possible object. This challenging study places fiction squarely at the center. The selection committee has also awarded honorable mention to professor elliott sober university of wisconsinmadison for his book, ockhams razors. Aug 31, 2017 in addition to ontology made easy, thomasson has authored two other books. V arzi, department of philosophy, columbia university, new york ny 10027, usa published in philosophy and phenomenological research 63. I am amie thomasson, professor of philosophy and cooper fellow at the university of miami.
But they all address the same questions, questions like. By contrast amie thomasson argues that fiction has farreaching. The usual grounds given for accepting or rejecting the view that there are fictional entities. Fictional discourse and fictionalisms oxford scholarship. Thomassons study seems to be driven by an independent sense of what is required to understand ordinary talk regarding fiction. The main problem associated with fictional characters is the apparent inconsistencies that exist when looking at the subject of fiction 1999, p. A fictional book is a text created specifically for a work in an imaginary narrative that is referred to, depicted, or excerpted in a story, book, film, or other fictional work, and which exists only in one or more fictional works. She is the author of a lot of articles, and three books. She is the author of fiction and metaphysics 1999, ordinary objects 2007. The metaphysical novel in england and america dickens, bulwer, melville, and hawthorne.
Introduction amie thomasson built an antifactual theory that tries to accommodate fictional characters as a way of resolving the main problem associated with fictional discourse. There he begins to find redemption and spiritual rebirth through his unselfish love for an abandoned child he discovers in his isolated. Oxford university press, 2007 reissued in paperback 2010. This challenging study places fiction squarely at the centre of the discussion of metaphysics. Ordinary objects ebook by amie thomasson rakuten kobo. She has also done work on artifacts, fictional characters, and social and cultural objects. Oct 31, 2014 amie thomasson is professor of philosophy and cooper fellow in the department of philosophy at the university of miami. This challenging study places fiction squarely at the center of the discussion of metaphysics. She specializes in metaphysics, metametaphysics, philosophy of art and literature, philosophy of mind, and phenomenology. Ontology made easy, ordinary objects and fiction and metaphysics in this episode of the philosophy for our times podcast, amie and rupert are joined by templeton prize winning cosmologist george ellis to discuss the fundamental problem of philosophy, as argued by heidegger. Fiction and metaphysics cambridge studies in philosophy.
One concerns negative existence claimsfor it seems that claims like sherlock holmes doesnt exist are true, although on the artefactualist view the fictional character holmes does exist. Chille arzi published in philosophy and phenomenological. He suggested that the former labeled god the no to nothing, while the latter symbolized god as the nothing to knowappellations out of which he formed. I am amie thomasson, professor of philosophy and cooper. Buy fiction and metaphysics cambridge studies in philosophy 1 by amie l. In addition, she has published more than 50 book chapters and articles on topics in metaphysics, metaontology, fiction, philosophy of. Stone professor of intellectual and moral philosophy. A fictional book may be created to add realism or depth to a larger fictional work. Harmony and form, beauty and art, obligation and personhood, flourishing and civilization hardcover average rating.
In ordinary objects, amie thomasson mounts a spirited and vigorous defense of the reality of ordinary objects. Eliots touching novel of a miser and a little child combines the charm of a fairy tale with the humor and pathos of realistic fiction. The main problem associated with fictional characters is the apparent inconsistencies that exist. Norms and necessity oxford university press, forthcoming. For example, george orwells novel nineteen eightyfour has excerpts from a book. The gentle linen weaver, silas marner, exiles himself to the town of raveloe after being falsely accused of a heinous theft. The book develops an artifactual theory of fiction, whereby.
She specializes in metaphysics, metametaphysics, philosophy of art and literature, phenomenology, and philosophy of mind. Some ideas about the metaphysics of stories the british. Thomasson describes fictional characters as created. It confronts important issues left open in that work among them, the semantics of proper names and natural kind terms as they occur in fiction and in myth. The book develops an artifactual theory of fiction, whereby fictional characters. Amie thomasson editor of phenomenology and philosophy of. Amie lynn thomasson born july 4, 1968 is an american philosopher, currently professor of philosophy at dartmouth college. The book develops an artifactual theory of fiction, whereby fictional characters are abstract artifacts as ordinary as laws or symphonies or works of literature. Offers a methodology for metaphysical inquiry that is useful for work on morality, causality, and other areas of philosophy. Amie thomasson is professor of intellectual and moral philosophy at dartmouth college and author of three books. In addition, she has published more than 50 book chapters and articles on topics.
Terry horgan, times literary supplement ordinary objects is a. I argue that the ontological status of fictional characters is determined by the beliefs and practices of those who competently deal with. Buy phenomenology and philosophy of mind books online at best prices in india by david woodruff smith,amie l. Kripke goes still further to argue that fictional names cannot.
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