Classical Theism, Philosophy, and Religion Forum / Trying to recall a philosopher

**Posted by Jeremy Taylor** 8/06/2015 7:05 pm

Just an idle inquiry, but I was trying to recall a philosopher someone once recommended I read. If I recall correctly he was an Austrian philosopher who defended common sense and realism. He wrote, party, I think in the 1920s and died around then. I don't think he is well known. Anyone know of such a figure?

**Posted by Johannes** 8/07/2015 11:38 am

In principle there are two possibilities, of which the second, IMV, sounds a lot more like you describe:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Brentano (1838 – 1917)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexius_Meinong (1853 – 1920)

A lot of info on both, and on all ontologists of the XIX and XX centuries, here:

http://www.ontology.co/idx05.htm

Last edited by Johannes (8/07/2015 2:26 pm)

**Posted by DanielCC** 8/07/2015 12:53 pm

@Jeremy,

Surely you are not talking about Franz Brentano?

@Johannes,

I think Meinong was a Representationlist (he certainly was a Nominalist) actually though I can’t quite remember where I got that from – Gustav Bergmann maybe?

**Posted by Johannes** 8/07/2015 2:38 pm

DanielCC wrote:

@Johannes,

I think Meinong was a Representationlist (he certainly was a Nominalist) actually though I can’t quite remember where I got that from – Gustav Bergmann maybe?

"Bergmann can therefore regard Meinong as a valid ally in the battle he has launched against representationalism ... and for a realistic ontology. Meinong supossedly reaches conclusions that are strictly compatible with a realistic ontology"

Rosaria Egidi and Guido Bonino 2008. "Fostering the Ontological Turn: Gustav Bergmann (1906-1987)", p. 207.

Bonino's review of Bergmann's critique of Brentano and Meinong:

http://www.humanamente.eu/PDF/Issue25_Commentary_Bonino.pdf

**Posted by DanielCC** 8/07/2015 3:16 pm

Johannes wrote:
DanielCC wrote:

@Johannes,

I think Meinong was a Representationlist (he certainly was a Nominalist) actually though I can’t quite remember where I got that from – Gustav Bergmann maybe?
"Bergmann can therefore regard Meinong as a valid ally in the battle he has launched against representationalism ... and for a realistic ontology. Meinong supossedly reaches conclusions that are strictly compatible with a realistic ontology"

Rosaria Egidi and Guido Bonino 2008. "Fostering the Ontological Turn: Gustav Bergmann (1906-1987)", p. 207.

Bonino's review of Bergmann's critique of Brentano and Meinong:

http://www.humanamente.eu/PDF/Issue25_Commentary_Bonino.pdf

Thanks Johannes, I'll print that essay out and give it a proper read through this evening. I'm quite particle to Bergmann - he doesn't get mentioned enough around these parts.

**Posted by Jeremy Taylor** 8/07/2015 6:52 pm

No, not Brentano or Meinong. He was alive and writing well into the 1920s, I think. I think his name began with an H, though I cannot be sure. Not completely sure he was Austrian. Could be German or Swiss. Not very helpful, I know. I don't think he was very well known, as not only had I not heard of him, but his wiki was a small one.

**Posted by Mysterious Brony** 8/08/2015 7:08 pm

Hmmmm what about Dietrich Von Hildebrand?

**Posted by Jeremy Taylor** 8/10/2015 7:02 pm

No, not Von Hildebrand either. I don't think he was an important figure in the Church. He struck me as resembling Max Picard in some ways: someone committed to common sense and realism - more interested in traditional philosophy (Plato, the Schoolmen) than phenomologists or idealists, but not a Neo-Scholastic either. Definitely not very well known.

**Posted by Jeremy Taylor** 5/25/2016 10:59 pm

The thinker I had in mind was Aurel Kolnai. Not sure why I thought he died around the 1920s or why I thought his name began with an H. Also he was influenced by Husserl and phenomenology:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurel_Kolnai