1001Philosophers

Franz Brentano 1838 – 1917

Franz Brentano (1838 – 1917) was a German-Austrian philosopher of the Modern era, associated with Continental Philosophy and Phenomenology.

Franz Brentano was a German-Austrian philosopher, a former Catholic priest, and the teacher of Husserl, Meinong, Stumpf, Twardowski, and many other founders of twentieth-century philosophy. His Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint reintroduced into modern philosophy the medieval thesis that mental phenomena are characterized by their directedness toward an object, a thesis he called intentional in-existence. From this starting point a generation of his students developed phenomenology, the theory of objects, and analytic philosophy of mind.

Key facts

Nationality
German-Austrian
Era
Modern
Movements
Continental Philosophy, Phenomenology

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Franz Brentano:

    “Every mental phenomenon is characterized by what the Scholastics of the Middle Ages called the intentional in-existence of an object.”

  • Attributed to Franz Brentano:

    “Mental acts are always directed at something.”

  • Attributed to Franz Brentano:

    “What is true is true regardless of who or how many believe it.”

  • Attributed to Franz Brentano:

    “We know that there is something rather than nothing because we are conscious.”

  • Attributed to Franz Brentano:

    “Love and hate are the proper subject matter of ethics.”

Read all Franz Brentano quotes

Franz Brentano by topic

Frequently asked about Franz Brentano

When did Franz Brentano live?
Franz Brentano was born in 1838 and died in 1917.
Where was Franz Brentano from?
Franz Brentano was a German-Austrian philosopher of the Modern era.
What philosophical movements is Franz Brentano associated with?
Franz Brentano was associated with Continental Philosophy and Phenomenology.
What was Franz Brentano known for?
Franz Brentano was a German-Austrian philosopher, a former Catholic priest, and the teacher of Husserl, Meinong, Stumpf, Twardowski, and many other founders of twentieth-century philosophy.
How many quotes are attributed to Franz Brentano?
There are 7 attributed quotations from Franz Brentano in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.