Abstract
In the first part, the paper describes in detail the classical conception of intentionality which was expounded in its most sophisticated form by Edmund Husserl. This conception is today largely eclipsed in the philosophy of mind by the functionalist and by the representationalist account of intentionality, the former adopted by Daniel Dennett and David Chalmers, the latter by John Searle and Fred Dretske. The very considerable differences between the classical and the modern conceptions are pointed out, and it is argued that the classical conception is more satisfactory than the two modern ones, not only regarding phenomenal adequacy, but also on the grounds of epistemological considerations. In the second part, the paper argues that classical intentionality is not naturalizable, that is, physicalizable. Since classical intentionality exists (in the experiences that display it), the non-naturalizability of classical intentionality implies psychophysical dualism.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bealer G. 1993 Materialism and the Logical Structure of Intentionality in H. Robinson (eds.), Objections to Physicalism Clarendon, Oxford 101–126
Chalmers D. 1996 The Conscious Mind Oxford University Press, New York/Oxford
Dennett D. C. 1971 Intentional Systems. Journal of Philosophy 68 87–106
Dennett D. C. 1991 Consciousness Explained Little, Brown and Company Boston/New York/London
Dennett D. C. 1994 Dennett, Daniel C. in S. Guttenplan (eds.), A Companion to the Philosophy of Mind Blackwell, Oxford, 236–244
Dretske F. 1995 Naturalizing the Mind MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
Husserl, E.: 1913, Logische Untersuchungen [Logical Investigations], Vol. 2, Part I, Niemeyer, Tübingen
Husserl, E.: 1992a, ‚Formale und transzendentale Logik [Formal and Transcendental Logic]’, in Ströker, E. (ed.), Edmund Husserl: Gesammelte Schriften, Vol. 7, Meiner, Hamburg
Husserl, E.: 1992b, ‚Die Krise der europäischen Wissenschaften und die transzendentale Phänomenologie [The Crisis of the European Sciences and Transcendental Phenomenology]’, in Ströker, E. (ed.), Edmund Husserl: Gesammelte Schriften, (vol.) 8, Meiner, Hamburg
Lowe E. J. 1996 Subjects of Experience Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Meixner U. 2004 The Two Sides of Being mentis, Paderborn
Searle J. R.: 1983 Intentionality Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Searle J. R.: 1992 The Rediscovery of the Mind MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
Searle J. R.: 1994 Intentionality (1) in S. Guttenplan (eds.), A Companion to the Philosophy of Mind Blackwell, Oxford, 379–386
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meixner, U. Classical Intentionality. Erkenntnis 65, 25–45 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10670-006-9013-2
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10670-006-9013-2