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Full Idea
The intentional action of including the word 'big' in a sentence does not require a prior intention to say it. What is required is that you say it with the intention of saying it.
Gist of Idea
Speech needs sustained intentions, but not prior intentions
Source
Rowland Stout (Action [2005], 7 'Relationship')
Book Ref
Stout,Rowland: 'Action' [Acumen 2005], p.102
A Reaction
This seems right, but makes it a lot harder to say what an intention is, and to separate it out for inspection. You can't speak a good English sentence while withdrawing the intention involved.
| 135 | All activity aims at the good [Plato] |
| 20074 | We can keep Davidson's account of intentions in action, by further explaining prior intentions [Davidson, by Stout,R] |
| 20026 | Intention is either the aim of an action, or a long-term constraint on what we can do [Bratman, by Wilson/Schpall] |
| 20036 | Intentional agency is seen in internal precursors of action, and in external reasons for the act [Stout,R] |
| 20066 | Speech needs sustained intentions, but not prior intentions [Stout,R] |