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Single Idea 8719

[filed under theme 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 2. Abstract Objects / c. Modern abstracta ]

Full Idea

Meinong (and Priest) leave room for impossible objects (like a mountain made entirely of gold), and even contradictory objects (such as a round square). This would have a property, of 'being a contradictory object'.

Gist of Idea

There can be impossible and contradictory objects, if they can have properties

Source

report of Alexius Meinong (The Theory of Objects [1904]) by Michèle Friend - Introducing the Philosophy of Mathematics 6.8

Book Ref

Friend,Michèle: 'Introducing the Philosophy of Mathematics' [Acumen 2007], p.159


A Reaction

This view is only possible with a rather lax view of properties. Personally I don't take 'being a pencil' to be a property of a pencil. It might be safer to just say that 'round squares' are possible linguistic subjects of predication.


The 6 ideas from Alexius Meinong

So-called 'free logic' operates without existence assumptions [Meinong, by George/Van Evra]
There can be impossible and contradictory objects, if they can have properties [Meinong, by Friend]
There are objects of which it is true that there are no such objects [Meinong]
Meinong says an object need not exist, but must only have properties [Meinong, by Friend]
Meinong said all objects of thought (even self-contradictions) have some sort of being [Meinong, by Lycan]
The objects of knowledge are far more numerous than objects which exist [Meinong]