brennetano | brentano philosophy

Franz Clemens Brentano (1838–1917) stands as a pivotal figure in the history of philosophy and psychology, largely remembered for his reintroduction of the concept of intentionality to the philosophical discourse, a concept that continues to shape debates in the philosophy of mind to this day. However, to reduce Brentano to merely the "intentionality guy" would be a grave disservice to the breadth and depth of his contributions. He was a meticulous scholar, a profound thinker, and a dedicated teacher who left an indelible mark on his students, including luminaries like Edmund Husserl, Alexius Meinong, and Christian von Ehrenfels. This article will delve into Brentano's life, philosophical contributions, and lasting legacy, exploring the nuances of his thought and highlighting his impact on subsequent generations of philosophers and psychologists.

A Life Dedicated to Learning and Teaching

Franz Brentano was born on January 16, 1838, in Marienberg am Rhein, Germany, into a family with strong intellectual and literary traditions. His father, Christian Brentano, was a prominent writer and member of the influential Brentano family, known for its contributions to German Romanticism. This rich intellectual atmosphere undoubtedly shaped the young Franz and fostered his lifelong love of learning.

Brentano's academic journey began at the University of Munich, where he studied philosophy, theology, and classical philology. He later continued his studies at the Universities of Würzburg, Berlin, and Münster, immersing himself in the works of Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, and other influential thinkers. In 1862, he earned his doctorate from the University of Tübingen with a dissertation on the concept of being according to Aristotle.

Following his doctorate, Brentano was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1864. He began his academic career as a privatdozent (private lecturer) at the University of Würzburg in 1866. His lectures quickly gained popularity due to his clarity of thought, engaging delivery, and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom. In 1873, he was appointed as a professor of philosophy at the University of Vienna, a position he held until his resignation in 1895.

Brentano's decision to resign from his professorship was driven by his strong opposition to the doctrine of papal infallibility, which was proclaimed by the First Vatican Council in 1870. He considered this doctrine to be inconsistent with reason and historical evidence, and his conscience would not allow him to remain a Catholic priest or a professor at a Catholic institution while adhering to it. He formally renounced his priesthood and relinquished his Austrian citizenship, eventually marrying and settling in Italy.

Despite resigning his professorship, Brentano continued to write and lecture independently. He maintained an active intellectual life, engaging in correspondence with prominent philosophers and scholars of his time. He spent his later years in Florence, Italy, where he died on March 17, 1917.brennetano

Brentano's Philosophy: A Return to Aristotle and a Rejection of Psychologism

Brentano's philosophical project was characterized by a return to Aristotelian principles and a staunch rejection of psychologism. He believed that philosophy should be grounded in empirical observation and rigorous analysis, rather than abstract speculation or subjective introspection. He saw Aristotle as a model for philosophical inquiry, emphasizing the importance of studying the world as it is, rather than imposing preconceived notions upon it.

Brentano's rejection of psychologism was particularly significant. Psychologism, a prevalent view in 19th-century philosophy, held that logic and mathematics were ultimately based on psychological processes. Brentano argued that this was a fundamental error, as it conflated the objective validity of logical and mathematical truths with the subjective psychological processes involved in thinking about them. He believed that logic and mathematics had their own independent foundations and could not be reduced to psychology.

Intentionality: The Hallmark of the Mental

Brentano's most enduring contribution to philosophy is undoubtedly his concept of intentionality. He argued that what distinguishes mental phenomena from physical phenomena is their inherent directedness towards an object. In his seminal work, *Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint* (1874), he famously wrote:

"Every mental phenomenon is characterized by what scholastic philosophers of the Middle Ages called the intentional (or mental) inexistence of an object, and what we might call, though not wholly unambiguously, reference to a content, direction toward an object (which is not to be understood here as meaning a thing), or immanent objectivity. Every mental phenomenon includes something *as object* within itself, though not always in the same way. In presentation something is presented, in judgment something is affirmed or denied, in love loved, in hate hated, in desire desired, and so on."