Intentionality

Definition

Intentionality is a philosophical concept that refers to the directedness or 'aboutness' of mental states. It describes the ability of the mind to represent or be directed towards objects, events, or states of affairs in the world.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Intentionality is a key concept in Continental philosophy, particularly in the phenomenological tradition, which challenges Enlightenment theories of the mind.
2. Intentionality is what distinguishes mental states from physical states, as mental states are always about or directed towards something.
3. The concept of intentionality was developed by the philosopher Franz Brentano and later expanded upon by Edmund Husserl, the founder of phenomenology.
4. Intentionality is often contrasted with the Cartesian view of the mind as a self-contained, isolated entity, as it emphasizes the mind's inherent directedness towards the world.
5. Intentionality is central to understanding the subjective, first-person experience of consciousness, which is a key focus of Continental philosophy's critique of Enlightenment rationalism.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of intentionality challenges Enlightenment theories of the mind.
  • The concept of intentionality challenges Enlightenment theories of the mind, which often viewed the mind as a self-contained, isolated entity. Intentionality emphasizes the mind's inherent directedness towards the world, its ability to represent or be about objects, events, or states of affairs. This shifts the focus away from the Cartesian view of the mind as a detached, rational substance and towards the subjective, first-person experience of consciousness, which is a key concern of Continental philosophy's critique of Enlightenment rationalism.
• Describe the relationship between intentionality and the phenomenological approach in Continental philosophy.
  • Intentionality is a central concept in the phenomenological tradition of Continental philosophy, which focuses on the study of human experience and consciousness. Phenomenology emphasizes the intentional structure of consciousness, the idea that mental states are always directed towards or about something. The concepts of noema (the object or content of a mental act) and noesis (the act of consciousness, the 'how' of intentionality) are crucial for understanding the phenomenological approach to intentionality and its critique of Enlightenment theories of the mind.
• Analyze how the concept of intentionality challenges the Cartesian view of the mind and its implications for understanding the nature of consciousness.
  • The concept of intentionality challenges the Cartesian view of the mind as a self-contained, isolated entity by emphasizing the mind's inherent directedness towards the world. This shifts the focus away from the rational, detached conception of the mind and towards the subjective, first-person experience of consciousness. Intentionality suggests that consciousness is not a self-sufficient substance, but rather a relational phenomenon that is always about or directed towards something. This has significant implications for understanding the nature of consciousness, as it suggests that the mind cannot be fully grasped through a purely rational, objective lens, but must be understood in terms of its intentional structure and its embeddedness in the lived, experiential world.

Related terms

Phenomenology: A philosophical approach that focuses on the study of human experience and consciousness, with intentionality as a central concept.

Noema: In phenomenology, the noema is the object or content of a mental act, the 'what' of intentionality.

Noesis: In phenomenology, the noesis is the act of consciousness, the 'how' of intentionality, the way in which the subject is directed towards the object.