back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 8971

[from 'The Theory of Objects' by Alexius Meinong, in 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 3. Objects in Thought ]

Full Idea

There are objects of which it is true that there are no such objects.

Gist of Idea

There are objects of which it is true that there are no such objects

Source

Alexius Meinong (The Theory of Objects [1904]), quoted by Peter van Inwagen - Existence,Ontological Commitment and Fictions p.131

Book Reference

'The Oxford Handbook of Metaphysics', ed/tr. Loux,M /Zimmerman,D [OUP 2005], p.131


A Reaction

Van Inwagen say this idea is 'infamous', but Meinong is undergoing a revival, and commitment to non-existent objects may be the best explanation of some ways of talking.