Abstract

In this article I shall present a Meinong-inspired theory of fictional objects. This theory is based on two ideas: fictional objects are mental objects, i.e., they depend for their identity conditions on minded subjects thinking of them; they bear properties in two different ways, i.e., by instantiating properties and by having properties “ascribed” to them. In my perspective, ascription relations hold (at least) between an object, a property and a minded subject. After having presented some data about fictional discourse, I shall defend the thesis that fictional objects are mental objects. Afterwards, I shall introduce ascription relations and I shall outline in detail my theory and a comprehensive ontology of fiction. Finally, I shall define the identity conditions of fictional objects, I shall deal with the aforementioned data and I shall summarize the advantages of my theory over rival theories of fictional objects.