Abstract

In this paper we intend to place the early Russell in the context of the refutation of idealism in the school of Meinong. We look into Mally's arguments against idealism, which have recourse to Russell's paradox, and Meinong's critique of them. Then we propose the hypothesis that the early Russell made up his thought in the Meinongian framework. From this point of view, we could point out that the origin of the paradox might be in the early Russell's criticism of Bradley's idealism. And Wittgenstein's resolution which could make Russell's theory of types dispensable might be compared to Mally's method of arguments which Meinong never adopts.