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intentionality

in-ten-shuh-NAL-uh-tee /ɪnˌten.ʃəˈnæl.ə.ti/

nounC2GRE

AcademicSpecialized

The feature of mental states whereby they are directed toward, about, or of objects and states of affairs in the world.

In philosophy, this does NOT mean having a goal or purpose (as in 'doing something intentionally'); it means mental 'aboutness'.

The story behind the word. From Latin 'intendere', meaning 'to stretch out towards'. Medieval Scholastic philosophy used it to describe how the mind stretches toward external objects. 19th-century philosopher Franz Brentano revived the term for modern phenomenology.

Word relationships

aboutness: Direct informal descriptor for the capacity of mind states to refer to objects.

non-directedness: States such as general anxiety or vague mood that lack a specific object.

Commonly confused with

intention: An intention is a plan or goal; intentionality is the mind's property of being directed toward an object.

Word family

intentional (adjective): In philosophy, possessing aboutness; in everyday speech, deliberate.

Collocations

aboutness and intentionality
collective intentionality
original intentionality
derived intentionality

Example sentences

"Franz Brentano argued that intentionality—the fact that mental states are about something—is the defining mark of the mental." Philosophy of Mind
"Beliefs, fears, and hopes all display intentionality because they are always directed toward a specific object or situation." Cognitive Science

Memory hook

INTENTIONALITY: The mind INTENDS (stretches out its attention) toward an object. Mind reaching out to an object.

When not to use

Do not confuse with everyday 'intent' or 'purposefulness' (e.g., 'he acted with intentionality').

Fun facts

A thought about a unicorn exhibits intentionality even though unicorns do not exist, because the mind is still directed toward the concept.