Single Idea 3367

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

Full Idea

Mental states are not the only things which exhibit intentionality - words and sentences can also refer to or represent facts or states of affairs.

Gist of Idea

Both thought and language have intentionality

Source

Jaegwon Kim (Philosophy of Mind [1996], p. 22)

Book Reference

Kim,Jaegwon: 'Philosophy of Mind' [Westview 1998], p.22


A Reaction

This points to Searle's distinction between 'intrinsic' and 'derived' intentionality (see Idea 3465). We must now explain the difference between verbal intentionality and non-verbal intentionality (both as phenomena, and as information).

Related Idea

Idea 3465 Either there is intrinsic intentionality, or everything has it [Searle]