In Defense of Realism About Virtual Objects

ABSTRACT This paper addresses the philosophical debate surrounding the ontological status of virtual objects. According to an influential anti‐realist view, virtual objects are merely fictional and therefore do not exist. My primary aim is to defend a realist view about virtual objects against this fictionalist anti‐realist view. I first challenge the anti‐realist view by comparing make‐believe games and virtual worlds. Then, I argue that although the debate between realists and anti‐realists about virtual objects may seem to reach a stalemate, a shared point of agreement can be used to break it. A key idea I seek to highlight is that there is no ontologically significant difference between colored objects and virtual objects. Lastly, I propose an error theory to address a potential worry with my view.