Joshua Knobe - What is Intentionality?

'Intentionality' is a philosophical term that describes the elements of mental states that are 'directed' at things or ideas—the fact that thinking, feeling, hoping, believing, desiring are 'about' things. How can physical brain processes—electric currents and chemical concentrations—be 'about' things? Intentionality, some claim, is a problem for physicalists.



Joshua Knobe is an experimental philosopher, whose work ranges across issues in philosophy of mind and action and ethics.


Closer to Truth, hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn and directed by Peter Getzels, presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

[Lilli]

Thank you Josh, you have made the world a better place.

[wayneasiam]

I love Robert Kuhn's channel Closer to Truth. I wonder if intentionality is made evident by our ability to evolve scientifically, philosophically and technologically. To progress in all areas shows we're on the right track.

[robertdegruchy]

Fascinating. We may introduce another factor in the "moral calculus" in that the dominating motivation is to win the battle regardless of potential losses and he may be pressured by his superiors to do so. Reminds me of a flick called 'Thin Red Line".

[SabiazothPsyche]

"Intentionality", is an approach and disposition of the volitional effervescent - instantaneous activities of the active force (e.g., such as the will, influence, compel/impel, incite, enforce, etc.)

[derekofbaltimore]

I think best case for intentionality would be drawing from imagination. Unintention moving pencil across page cannot produce a refined representative drawing. This example has no pressure from outside morals and doesn't involve copying from an existing image. The ability to draw realism required intention practice for long periods of time and the imagination is not bound. Also translating from imagination to page is especially hard requiring mind hand coordination

[stevemawdsley]

Was it not the General’s “intention” to get the troops onto Thompson hill regardless of the outcome? Important distinction yes?

[markberman]

The best intentionality is when those being influenced have no idea it is happening... cannot separate morality from it because of how humans are... if the overall affect of either a visible or not intention or even one reflected of an individual just by their nature... has a negative affect and that can be seen and arise in many different forms.. that intentionality is rooted within that person... that makes sense in my head and based on a lifetime of experience within this realm of observing and evaluating people, not sure my written description makes any sense tho... heh.

[reubentelfer]

The two situations also differ in respect to something bad happening and not happening. It would be interesting to see the experiment with a morally neutral example to see if the difference in judgment of intentionality persists.

[joegibbskins]

The thing is, in both scenarios the sole factor in the general’s decision is taking the hill. In the situation where the movement will subject his troops to direct fire, there is a moral calculus that the loss of life is worth the objective of taking the hill. In the scenario where the hill costs no life to take, there is no moral calculus so it is morally neutral. We all understand this intuitively which is why our emotional response is different to both scenarios, but our emotional response is the correct one. Sometimes our brains just process information quicker than we can rationally articulate

[mightytaiger]

Trying to mix 2 completely different topics. I don't understand "intentionality" to be any of what was discussed here, which seems more like "blame" or "desire".

[treasurepoem]

Wow, very educational, I also thought that the general did something morally good unintentionally, not knowing that people generally tend to see it as intentional when someone does something morally bad and not intentional when they do something morally good.

[kallianpublico]

As long as there is ignorance, what is intention? As long as there is need: food, water, what is intention?
Intention is the nexus between ignorance, need and being. Being is "moral", need is "truth", and ignorance is "beauty".
As long as there is ignorance intention is an illusion, an illusion called desire. As long as there is need intention is necessary, a necessity called consciousness. As long as there is being intention has agency, an agent called self-consciousness.

[grnDestiny]

Was that editing at the start intentional? 😂 does the editor know someone would ask this as extended question 🤣 this was interesting I need think about this for a while, I’m thinking the next comment I make will be ‘that’s not looking good for free will, but I need think more if if I can break that down.

[jamesruscheinski]

intentionality examines whether a higher priority be considered in making choice and doing action?

[IamAvidity]

I try and judge my intent by the precedent that my prior actions set.

[MeRetroGamer]

I think human intuition about intentionality has something which is not easily computable.

If the general wants to take the hill and his soldires will die, then there's some kind of counterbalance that gives a strong weight to the fact that his soldiers will die, because it being a heavy bad action should dissuade the general in taking that choice, despite of his desires.

On the other hand, if the general wants to take the hill and his soldiers will be saved, then the counterbalance gives more weight to the fact that he wants to take the hill. His soldiers would be saved so it doesn't matter, it's not a factor to take into account because it shouldn't dissuade him from his choice, and all the weight of his decission goes to his objective (which is to take the hill).

[mainman]

My reaction was the general moved the troops in and out of the line of fire intentionally in both cases. He knew the specific consequence in question and still made the decision in both cases. Whether it was his goal to save or endanger or take the hill doesn’t seem relevant. Simply knowing of a consequence and still making the decision makes it intentional. Maybe not the goal but intentional nonetheless.

[ptgms]

There must be other unidentified processes happening that cannot be directly expressed as, "electric currents and chemical concentrations." Something operating of more importance to these other detectable causes? We need finer instruments for a
finer understanding... however, we need a finer understanding to create the finer instruments.

[ahmedbellankas]

The general did it intentionally, but the problem is with his motivating reasons, because what will happen to troops is a known side effect of the general acts, what people want is that the general motivating reasons be rescuing the troops.

[bluelotus]

We can act either intentionally or instinctively. In other words, we can be rational or irrational. It all depends on our power of self-control, and self-control must be based on sound goodness, otherwise it's just lucid madness.