One such goal is to derive some account of the underlying real world that is reflected by that interpretation, another is to determine principles of interpretation, or the motives of the behaviour being described, or simply to derive aesthetic enjoyment. The consumers of these interpretations – perhaps the reader of a paper like this – themselves carry out further interpretive processes, which can have different goals than those of the initial interpreter. The interpretation creates from all events a narrative whose purpose is to simplify and model the world in which those events occurred. Those scare quotes emphasise how there can only be an arbitrary separation between the fictional and the non-fictional once behaviour has been filtered through an interpretive mechanism. This paper considers strategic behaviour by ‘fictional’ actors in a ‘fictional’ world. All subjects Allied Health Cardiology & Cardiovascular Medicine Dentistry Emergency Medicine & Critical Care Endocrinology & Metabolism Environmental Science General Medicine Geriatrics Infectious Diseases Medico-legal Neurology Nursing Nutrition Obstetrics & Gynecology Oncology Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Otolaryngology Palliative Medicine & Chronic Care Pediatrics Pharmacology & Toxicology Psychiatry & Psychology Public Health Pulmonary & Respiratory Medicine Radiology Research Methods & Evaluation Rheumatology Surgery Tropical Medicine Veterinary Medicine Cell Biology Clinical Biochemistry Environmental Science Life Sciences Neuroscience Pharmacology & Toxicology Biomedical Engineering Engineering & Computing Environmental Engineering Materials Science Anthropology & Archaeology Communication & Media Studies Criminology & Criminal Justice Cultural Studies Economics & Development Education Environmental Studies Ethnic Studies Family Studies Gender Studies Geography Gerontology & Aging Group Studies History Information Science Interpersonal Violence Language & Linguistics Law Management & Organization Studies Marketing & Hospitality Music Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution Philosophy Politics & International Relations Psychoanalysis Psychology & Counseling Public Administration Regional Studies Religion Research Methods & Evaluation Science & Society Studies Social Work & Social Policy Sociology Special Education Urban Studies & Planning BROWSE JOURNALS

The case of the purloined letter