Obiectus

Obiectus is a term found in Latin philosophical and rhetorical texts, typically treated as the noun meaning “the object.” Etymologically, it derives from the Latin past participle of obicere, meaning “to throw before” or “to place in front of,” with obiectus designating the thing presented to the mind or senses in a given act of cognition or perception.

In medieval and Renaissance philosophy, obiectus commonly designated the object of an intellectual or perceptual act—what is presented to the intellect or to the senses. It is often discussed in relation to the subject (the observer or knower) and to the acts of judgment or perception. The term appears in translations and commentaries on Aristotle, and in scholastic discussions of intentionality and epistemology. In these contexts obiectus may be contrasted with the subjectus or subject and with the act of cognition itself.

In modern philosophy and cognitive science, the Latin term is rarely used as a technical designation. Scholars more often speak of the object of representation, the intentional object, or simply the object of a mental act. When encountered in historical texts, obiectus is usually treated as a historical term for the object of thought or perception rather than as a current technical term.

Related concepts include the general notion of the object in philosophy, the intentional object, and the distinction between object and subject in epistemology. The term is primarily of historical interest and appears mainly in translations or discussions of older Latin sources.