A fictional character can be believed by some to be real, known by others to be fictional, and an object of uncertainty to still others. Some young children believe Santa Claus to be real; adults know him to be purely fictional; and some children are unsure whether he is real or fictional. It seems to follow that such sentences as 'Santa Claus is jolly' need not be understood as prefixed by a story operator to be understood. A child who asserts 'Santa Claus is jolly' needn't be asserting 'In the Santa Claus legend, Santa Claus is jolly.' For the child might be unsure whether S. C. is real or fictional.
Does this reflection give aid and comfort to Meinongians?
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