Alexius Meinong
modernAustrian Philosophy, Object Theory1853 – 1920
Alexius Meinong (1853–1920) was an Austrian philosopher and psychologist who founded the Graz school of experimental psychology and developed Gegenstandstheorie (Theory of Objects). He is best known for his systematic account of non-existent objects — such as the golden mountain or the round square — arguing that objects can have properties (Sosein) independently of whether they exist (Sein). His work provoked Bertrand Russell's theory of descriptions and remains central to debates in ontology, reference, and the philosophy of language.
Notable Achievements
1
Developed Gegenstandstheorie, a systematic theory of objects including non-existent and impossible objects
2
Distinguished Sein (existence) from Sosein (having properties), enabling properties to be ascribed to non-existents
3
Founded the Graz school of experimental psychology and its associated philosophical research program
4
Influenced Bertrand Russell's theory of definite descriptions through productive disagreement
5
Contributed foundational work on intentionality, value theory, and the ontology of assumptions