more from Jerry A. Fodor

Single Idea 7326

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 4. Intentionality / b. Intentionality theories]

Full Idea

Sooner or later the physicists will complete the catalogue of ultimate and irreducible things, with the likes of spin, charm and charge. But aboutness won't be on the list; intentionality simply doesn't go that deep.

Gist of Idea

Intentionality doesn't go deep enough to appear on the physicists' ultimate list of things

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (Psychosemantics [1987], 4 Intro)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'Psychosemantics' [MIT 1993], p.97


A Reaction

I totally agree with this, which I take to be a warning to John Searle against including something called 'intrinsic intentionality' into his ontology. Intentionality 'emerges' out of certain complex brain activity.