Single Idea 3465

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 4. Intentionality / a. Nature of intentionality]

Full Idea

If you deny the distinction between intrinsic and derived ('as-if') intentionality, then it follows that everything in the universe has intentionality (for example, stones seem to want to fall).

Gist of Idea

Either there is intrinsic intentionality, or everything has it

Source

John Searle (The Rediscovery of the Mind [1992], Ch. 3.IV)

Book Reference

Searle,John R.: 'The Rediscovery of the Mind' [MIT 1999], p.81


A Reaction

Searle makes this claim because he always takes mental phenomena like intentionality or consciousness to be all-or-nothing - and he's wrong. He refuses to acknowledge non-conscious intentional states - and he's wrong again.