Does Strawson's Critique of the Theory of Definite Descriptions Pose a Problem to Russell's Anti-Meinongianism?

Essay from the year 2017 in the subject Philosophy - Philosophy of the 20th century, , language: English, abstract: This paper examines Russell¿s criticism of Meinong in his article "On Denoting". Furthermore, it enquires into the possibilities Strawson¿s critique of Russell¿s theory of definite descriptions may open up for Meinongian ideas. As this paper will show, there is indeed some potential to find there, although it seems not to be strong enough to be really convincing.

In order to introduce Russell¿s theory, the paper starts with an overview of the Referential Theory of meaning Russell wants to overcome; then it will be clarified some basic notions (the varieties of singular terms) and problems (nonexistents and negative existentials) following the presentation of Meinong¿s Theory of Objects which is one of the targets of Russell¿s criticisms; eventually, after all basic theories, notions and problems have been laid out, there will be a demonstration of Russell¿s Theory of Descriptions and their critical anti-Meinongian implications.