On the non-propositional content of our ordinary intentions

Philosophical Explorations 27 (3):262-279 (2024)
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Abstract

It is a widely-held thesis that the content of intentions can be characterized in terms of the truth of a proposition. In this paper I try to reject this idea. First, I argue that, at least for ordinary cases of intention, there cannot be any proposition such that the intention is fulfilled if, and only if, such a proposition is true. After that, I propose an alternative account for the content of intentions. I argue that this content must ultimately involve a particular acting by the agent.IMPACT STATEMENTAn important aspect of my conclusion is that we should revise some widespread assumptions in the current debate between ‘propositionalism' and ‘non-propositionalism'. The ultimate reasons for rejecting conventional forms of the former should also underpin the rejection of the most common understanding of the latter.

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Xavier Castella
Universitat de Girona

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References found in this work

Intentionality: An Essay in the Philosophy of Mind.John R. Searle - 1983 - New York: Cambridge University Press.
On the Plurality of Worlds.David Lewis - 1986 - Revue Philosophique de la France Et de l'Etranger 178 (3):388-390.
Change in View: Principles of Reasoning.Gilbert Harman - 1986 - Studia Logica 48 (2):260-261.
The Humean theory of motivation.Michael Smith - 1987 - Mind 96 (381):36-61.

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