And this is supposed to show that he knows that he exist without absolute certainty. — Purple Pond
However, how can you be absolutely certain your not also a fictional character? — Purple Pond
"Fictional" is a kind of existence, so Harry Potter exists, but as a fictional character. Harry Potter is real in that it exists, but the nature of its existence is as a fictional character in a book, not as an actual human being. — Harry Hindu
Harry Potter is a fictional character. As such, Harry Potter can only do fictional things - fictional thinking and magic-use, and goes to fictional schools.However, as unenlightened pointed out, do you think it's reasonable to say fictional characters can do things? Can it be said that Harry Potter thinks, does magic, goes to school, etc.? And if so, what does it mean when we say "Harry Potter thinks"? It certainly doesn't mean he thinks in the same way an actual person thinks, as he doesn't have the requisite physical brain necessary for thinking. Furthermore, he only "thinks" when someone tells him to think and what someone tells him to "think." — czahar
Do ideas think, or isnt it that ideas are the result of thinking? — Harry Hindu
"Fictional" is a kind of existence...
— Harry Hindu
I agree with this. — czahar
I don't. Fiction exists in the usual way, but "fictional" is rather a kind of nonexistence. — unenlightened
"Fictional" refers to the idea of nonexistence.Fiction exists in the usual way, but "fictional" is rather a kind of nonexistence. — unenlightened
Which is to say that Sheila Potter is just another idea like Harry Potter that hasnt had as much of an effect as the idea of Harry Potter.Sheila Potter, Harry's older sister, has no existence whatsoever despite that I have just conjured her. And Harry Potter has no existence whatsoever despite the fact that Rowling conjured him. Existence-wise, Rowling's creation and mine are on a par, despite hers having more sales. — unenlightened
However, how can you be absolutely certain your not also a fictional character? — Purple Pond
"Fictional" refers to the idea of nonexistence. — Harry Hindu
This is a typical misuse of language by philosophers who are more interested in making word salad rather than getting at any truth.Fiction is realism in a different universe of discourse, wherein the paradigmatic properties of the particular discourse changes entirely. — SethRy
Any other universe that has a causal relationship with our universe can be said to be part of the same reality - the multiverse. — Harry Hindu
It should have been "I think, therefore I might be". — whollyrolling
"I think, therefore I might be". — whollyrolling
Numbers are processed by computers and can be processed by other animals. A number is an arbitrary symbol that refers to the sum of members in a category. This is what the symbols mean for humans because that is what most humans have learned to associate these scribbles and sounds with. Other animals can see and hear these scribbles and sounds and learn to associate anything with them. Animals learn to go where they have found more abundant food in the past. Computers can be programmed to interpret numbers in incalculable ways. The CPU in your computer is a super-powered calculator.Numbers, correct me if I am wrong, but are subsistent factors, for they are conceptual intuitions that are only processed in the human mind. Fiction, are absistent factors, for although they do not exist in our metaphysical reality, they exist in a particular universe of discourse.
Both Numbers and Fictional Virtue do, comprehend causality to our metaphysical reality. — SethRy
Numbers are processed by computers and can be processed by other animals. A number is an arbitrary symbol that refers to the sum of members in a category. This is what the symbols mean for humans because that is what most humans have learned to associate these scribbles and sounds with. Other animals can see and hear these scribbles and sounds and learn to associate anything with them. Animals learn to go where they have found more abundant food in the past. Computers can be programmed to interpret numbers in incalculable ways. The CPU in your computer is a super-powered calculator. — Harry Hindu
Who was indubitably wrong? You are contradicting yourself. How is "existing" and "being wrong" mutually exclusive? How would you know that someone else is wrong? What does it mean to be "wrong"?I agree, Descartes is indubitably wrong when he claims he is certain about his existence. — SethRy
How do fictional characters come into existence?In addition, evaluating something that is meant to describe your essence does not solve the existence of fictional characters, at least I think so. — SethRy
In fiction, when the author ascribes something to character, then it means it is true that that character has that property. — Purple Pond
Who was indubitably wrong? You are contradicting yourself. How is "existing" and "being wrong" mutually exclusive? How would you know that someone else is wrong? What does it mean to be "wrong"? — Harry Hindu
How do fictional characters come into existence? — Harry Hindu
Using the term, "universe" the way you do is incoherent and more artful rather than accurate. — Harry Hindu
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