Single Idea 2485

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

Full Idea

Intentional Realism is the idea that our intentional mental states causally explain our behaviour; so holistic semantics (which says no two people have the same intentional states, or share generalisations) is irrealistic about intentional mental states.

Gist of Idea

Do intentional states explain our behaviour?

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (In a Critical Condition [2000], Ch. 6)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'In Critical Condition' [MIT 2000], p.69


A Reaction

...presumably because two people CAN have the same behaviour. The key question would be whether the intentional states have to be conscious.