Performative Paradoxes in the Fictional and Philosophical Discourses

This paper considers the problem of performativity and performative paradoxes. We propose an approach in which the performative paradoxes are understood as paradoxes of existence. In its structure, the performative paradoxes are similar to non-existent objects like unicorn, a round square or Hamlet: as objects of our thinking, they exist, but they are not found in sensory experience. Performative paradox and non-existent object actualize when we start to think about them; before thinking, they are in the "dismantled" form. In the world there are horses and creatures with horns on the head; in the world there is such Eubulides, who either always tells the truth or lie. There is no Eubulides who at the same time tells truth and lie in all seriousness; there is no unicorn who is a horse with a horn on his head. As illustrative material, we use the texts of birch-bark letters, Old Rus's Chronicles and graffities with the aim to substantiate the thesis that performativity of the speech act legalises largely due to the communication context of the community (tradition, language practice, articulated agreements).