Ourwordsandideasrefertoobjectsandpropertiesintheexternalworld;thisphenomenoniscentraltothought,language,communication,andscience.Butgreatworksoffictionarefullofnamesthatdon’tseemtorefertoanything!InthisbookKennethA.Taylorexploresthemyriadofproblemsthatsurroundthephenomenonofreference.Howcanwordsinlanguageandperturbationsinourbrainscometostandforexternalobjects?Referenceisessentialtotruth,butwhichismorebasic:referenceortruth?Howcanfictionalcharactersplaysuchanimportantroleinimaginationandliterature,andhowdoesthisuseoflanguageconnectwithmoremundaneuses?Taylordevelopsaframeworkforunderstandingreference,andthetheoriesthatotherthinkers-pastandpresent-havedevelopedaboutit.ButTaylordoesn’tsimplytelluswhatothersthought;thebookisfullofnewideasandanalyses,makingforavitalfinalcontributionfromaseminalphilosopher.
