 Cases like these seem to be clear counterexamples to the principle of intentionality. However, many philosophers found this principle too appealing to be given up completely. While some came to the conclusion that intentionality is not a real relation and therefore does not require the existence of an object (see, for instance, Brentano 1874, Prior 1971, Searle 1983, Crane 2013), Meinong offered another solution: there is indeed an object for every mental state whatsoever—if not an existent object then at least a nonexistent  one.[3]