Alexius Meinong: A Curiosity of the 19th Century or a Hidden Treasure?
The Psychological Laboratory was founded in 1894 in Graz by Alexius Meinong, an outstanding thinker of his time. Unlike his prominent contemporaries such as Wilhelm Wundt, John Dewey, William James, Max Wertheimer, and Kurt Koffka, Meinong's influence on psychology has largely remained unnoticed. Several reasons account for this: First, Meinong supervised only a small number of students who could have further developed his theories. Second, his most significant successors in psychology, Stephan Witasek and Vittorio Benussi, died prematurely and were unable to continue his legacy. Third, by the end of the First World War at the latest, philosophy had become clearly separated from psychology, and Meinong's influence was primarily preserved within the field of philosophy.
But what significance might Meinong's psychological theories hold in the 21st century? Are they merely of historical interest, or could they still inspire and guide us today? This question is not easily answered, as only a few scholars have engaged deeply with Meinong’s psychological work.
This website seeks to systematically document Alexius Meinong’s legacy in psychology and make modern perspectives on his theories accessible. It offers a comprehensive collection of contributions that place Meinong’s psychological thinking in the context of current scientific discourse. In the coming years, the site will be continuously expanded to include relevant new works. The aim is to keep Meinong’s work vibrant and inspiring, so that future generations can learn from his way of thinking and contribute to the further development of psychology.
Meinong’s Theoretical Contributions
One of Meinong’s most significant contributions to psychology is his Theory of Objects. According to this theory, anything that can be intended by the mind qualifies as an object. Objects are distinguished by their properties, which can vary in number and complexity. For example, the object "Labrador dog" has properties such as color, size, and temperament, characteristic of this specific breed. In contrast, the more abstract object "dog" may or may not share the same properties.
Some objects are dependent on others, as illustrated by the Kanizsa Triangle — a perceptual phenomenon where a triangle is perceived through the arrangement of other geometric shapes. Moreover, some objects lack the property of existence but can still be conceived by the mind, like unicorns, dragons, or even a "spherical cow without friction," a simplified yet useful model employed in scientific contexts.
What insights can Meinong’s Theory of Objects provide about virtual reality, the Furry Fandom, and common scientific misconceptions? That is still to be explored!
