July 17

Baumgarten studied at the universities of Halle and Königsberg, where he developed his philosophical system. He introduced 'aesthetics' as a distinct branch of philosophy concerned with beauty and sensory perception. His major work, 'Aesthetica,' influenced later thinkers, including Immanuel Kant. Baumgarten argued that art and beauty could be critically examined using rigorous concepts. He served as a professor in Frankfurt (Oder) and taught rhetoric and poetry. His ideas laid the groundwork for modern theories of art, criticism, and aesthetics. He died in 1762, but his terminology and insights continue to shape the philosophy of art.

Born in 1853 in the Austrian partition of Poland, Alexius Meinong studied under Franz Brentano and developed a unique theory of objects, asserting that mental representations can refer to non-existent entities. He founded the Graz School of philosophy and mentored students who became prominent scholars. Meinong’s systematic approach bridged psychology and metaphysics, influencing figures like Edmund Husserl and Bertrand Russell. He authored major works such as the 'Theory of Objects' that challenged existing notions of reference and existence. Meinong held a professorship at the University of Graz and remained a central figure in European philosophical circles until his death in 1920.