Franz Carl Müller-Lyer, born Francis Xavier Hermann Müller (5 February 1857 - 29 October 1916) was a German psychologist and sociologist.[1] The
Müller-Lyer illusion is named after him.[2][3][4]
In 1888 he entered into private practice in
Munich.
Müller-Lyer's speculations on the evolution of the role of the
family in human society received prominent mention in
Bertrand Russell's 1924 essay "Styles in Ethics," which argued for the
relativity and impermanence of moral standards.[5]
The
optical illusion he described in 1889 involves the perception of the length of a line when the ends are capped by
chevrons. Diverging chevrons seem to make the line longer when compared with converging chevrons. There are numerous similar geometrical illusions known now.
Works
Phasen der Kultur und Richtungslinien des Fortschritts, 1908. Translated by Elizabeth Coote Lake & Hilda Amelia Lake as The history of social development, London: G. Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1920.
Der sinn des lebens und die wissenschaft. Grundlinien einer volksphilosophie, München: Lehman, 1910.
Die Familie, München: J.F. Lehmann, 1911. Translated by
Stella Browne as The family, London: G. Allen & Unwin, 1931.
Formen der Ehe, der Familie und der Verwandstschaft, Müchen: J.F. Lehman, 1911.
Phasen der Liebe : eine Soziologie des Verhältnisses der Geschlechter, München: A. Langen, 1913. Translated by Isabella Wigglesworth as The evolution of modern marriage: a sociology of sexual relations, London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1929.
Soziologie der leiden, München: A. Langen, 1914.
Die Zähmung der Nornen, 2 vols., München: Albert Langen, 1918-1924. Edited by Betty Müller-Lyer.