Demonstrative Reference to the Unreal
November 26, 2020 Marga Reimer
Hallucinations are common, yet philosophers of language have largely ignored how people refer to them with demonstratives like 'that.' The chapter introduces hypnagogic and other benign hallucinations, then presents a puzzle about demonstrative reference to such experiences. The author outlines an account of this reference, rejects one proposed solution, and tentatively endorses another. The chapter concludes that 'odd ball' cases are valuable for fine-tuning theories in the philosophy of language.