The Metaphysics of Fictional Objects

Realism about Fictional Objects is a view that is committed to the existence of fictional objects. In this thesis, I defend a view in the fictional realist tradition called the Artefactual Theory of Objects, and argue that this view provides the best explanation of fictional data. This is done in the following order. First, I evaluate and argue against alternative realist and anti-realist views that purport to explain fictional data better than the Artefactual Theory of Objects. Second, I show how semantic theories cannot aid in the success of alternative views or succeed by themselves. Third and last, I show how the Artefactual Theory of Objects is capable of overcoming the metaphysical problems raised against it.