Franz Brentano

Franz Clemens Honoratus Hermann Brentano (January 16, 1838 Marienberg am Rhein (near Boppard) - March 17, 1917 Zürich) was an influential figure in both philosophy and psychology. His influence was felt by other figures such as Edmund Husserl and Alexius Meinong who followed and adapted Brentano's views.

Life

Franz Brentano studied philosophy at the universities of Munich, Würzburg, Berlin (with Trendelenburg) and Münster. He had a special interest in Aristotle and scholastic philosophy. He wrote his dissertation in Tübingen On the manifold sense of Being in Aristotle.

Related Topics:
Philosophy - Munich - Würzburg - Berlin - Trendelenburg - Münster - Aristotle - Scholastic philosophy - Tübingen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Subsequently he began to study theology and entered the seminar in Munich and then Würzburg, preparing to become a Roman Catholic priest (ordained August 6, 1864). In 1865 - 1866 he wrote and defended his habilitation essay and theses and began to lecture at the university of Würzburg. His students in this period included, among others, Carl Stumpf and Anton Marty.

Related Topics:
Theology - August 6 - 1864 - 1865 - 1866 - Habilitation - University of Würzburg - Carl Stumpf - Anton Marty

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Between 1870 and 1873 Brentano was heavily involved in the debate on papal infallibility. A strong opponent of such dogma, he eventually gave up his priesthood. Following Brentano's religious struggles, Stumpf (who was studying at the seminar at the time) was also drawn away from the church.

Related Topics:
1870 - 1873 - Papal infallibility - Dogma - Stumpf

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1874 Brentano published his major work: "Psychology from an empirical standpoint" and from 1874 to 1895 he taught at the university of Vienna. Among his students were Edmund Husserl, Alexius Meinong, Christian von Ehrenfels and many others (see School of Brentano for more details). While he began his career as a full ordinary professor, he was forced to give up his Austrian citizenship and his professorship in 1880 to be able to marry. He was permitted to return to the university only as a Privatdozent.

Related Topics:
1874 - 1895 - University of Vienna - Edmund Husserl - Alexius Meinong - Christian von Ehrenfels - School of Brentano - 1880

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After his retirement he moved to Florence in Italy and at the outbreak of the First World War he transferred to Zürich, where he died in 1917.

Related Topics:
Florence - Italy - First World War - Zürich - 1917

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~