My primary research interest is in contemporary metaphysics. I've written on time, modality, mereology, and the ontology of fiction.I also have an on-going research project, with Ahmed Alwishah, on the history of the Liar Paradox in the medieval Arabic tradition.
We consider a recurring objection to fictional realism, the view that (broadly speaking) fictiona... more We consider a recurring objection to fictional realism, the view that (broadly speaking) fictional characters are objects. We call it the counting objection. Russell presses a version of the objection against Meinong's view. Everett presses a version of the objection against contemporary fictional realist views, as (in effect) do Nolan and Sandgren. As we see it, the objection assumes that the fictional realist must provide criteria of identity for fictional characters, so its force depends on the plausibility of that assumption. Rather than coming up with such criteria, a fictional realist might argue that the demand is misplaced.
We want to say both that Sherlock Holmes does not exist, and that he is a fictional character. Bu... more We want to say both that Sherlock Holmes does not exist, and that he is a fictional character. But how can we say these things without committing ourselves to the existence of Sherlock Holmes? Here I develop and defend a non-committal paraphrase of quantification over fictional characters, modeled on the non-committal paraphrase Kit Fine provides for quantification over possibilia. I also develop and defend the view that names for fictional characters are weakly non-referring, in Nathan Salmon’s sense, and so provide us with a non-committal means to express singular propositions. The resulting position allows us to reap the benefits of Fictional Realism without paying the associated ontological cost.
Translation and analysis of a strange but key text in the history of the Liar Paradox in the Medi... more Translation and analysis of a strange but key text in the history of the Liar Paradox in the Medieval Arabic tradition.
An analysis of the earliest discussions of the Liar Paradox in the Medieval Arabic tradition, inc... more An analysis of the earliest discussions of the Liar Paradox in the Medieval Arabic tradition, including the earliest known text in any tradition to blame the paradox on self-reference. English translations included.
We consider a recurring objection to fictional realism, the view that (broadly speaking) fictiona... more We consider a recurring objection to fictional realism, the view that (broadly speaking) fictional characters are objects. We call it the counting objection. Russell presses a version of the objection against Meinong's view. Everett presses a version of the objection against contemporary fictional realist views, as (in effect) do Nolan and Sandgren. As we see it, the objection assumes that the fictional realist must provide criteria of identity for fictional characters, so its force depends on the plausibility of that assumption. Rather than coming up with such criteria, a fictional realist might argue that the demand is misplaced.
We want to say both that Sherlock Holmes does not exist, and that he is a fictional character. Bu... more We want to say both that Sherlock Holmes does not exist, and that he is a fictional character. But how can we say these things without committing ourselves to the existence of Sherlock Holmes? Here I develop and defend a non-committal paraphrase of quantification over fictional characters, modeled on the non-committal paraphrase Kit Fine provides for quantification over possibilia. I also develop and defend the view that names for fictional characters are weakly non-referring, in Nathan Salmon’s sense, and so provide us with a non-committal means to express singular propositions. The resulting position allows us to reap the benefits of Fictional Realism without paying the associated ontological cost.
Translation and analysis of a strange but key text in the history of the Liar Paradox in the Medi... more Translation and analysis of a strange but key text in the history of the Liar Paradox in the Medieval Arabic tradition.
An analysis of the earliest discussions of the Liar Paradox in the Medieval Arabic tradition, inc... more An analysis of the earliest discussions of the Liar Paradox in the Medieval Arabic tradition, including the earliest known text in any tradition to blame the paradox on self-reference. English translations included.
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