Abstract
In this paper, I appeal to a distinction made by David Lewis between identifying and
determining semantic content in order to defend a complementarity thesis expressed
by Anjan Chakravartty. The thesis states that there is no conflict between informational
and functional views of scientific modeling and representation. I then apply the
complementarity thesis to well-received theories of pictorial representation, thereby
stressing the fruitfulness of drawing an analogy between the nature of fictions in art
and in science. I end by attending to the problem of depicting impossible fictions. It is
suggested that progress can be made by understanding the role of impossible fictions
in science, namely, allowing researchers to probe into the possible structure and representational
capacities of scientific theory.