G.E.M. Anscombe, an influential 20th-century philosopher, contributed significantly to the philosophy of mind, action theory, and ethics. One of her central philosophical contributions is the concept of intentionality in relation to the mind, famously encapsulated in her statement, "Intentionality is the mark of the mental."
Intentionality, in philosophical terms, refers to the capacity of the mind to be about, to represent, or to stand for, things, properties, and states of affairs. The concept dates back to the medieval Scholastics and was revitalized by the philosopher Franz Brentano in the late 19th century. For Anscombe, intentionality is a fundamental feature of mental states—something that distinguishes the mental from the non-mental.
Her exploration of intentionality is most prominently displayed in her book "Intention," which is a study of the forms and nature of human action and the reasons behind actions. Anscombe argues that the mental state of intending to do something is different from a mere desire or wish; it involves planning and directing one’s actions towards a particular end. This means that intentions are not only predictive but also normative; they tell us what should be done, not just what might happen.
Intentionality, for Anscombe, implies that our mental states are directed towards objects or states of affairs in the world. When someone believes, hopes, fears, or desires, there is always something that they believe, hope, fear, or desire about. This ‘aboutness’ is characteristic of mental phenomena, which are thus inherently relational; they always have an object, whether that object is a concrete entity, an abstract concept, or a nonexistent fiction.
Anscombe’s focus on intentionality challenges the behaviorist view that reduces mental activities to mere physical processes and observable behaviors. Instead, she posits that intentions are internal to the agent and can be understood only in the context of the agent’s actions and experiences. Mental states and activities are thus irreducible to physical states because they involve an inner life that is characterized by this aboutness or directedness towards things in the world.
Moreover, she suggests that understanding intentionality is crucial for understanding moral responsibility. Intentional actions are those for which agents can be held morally accountable because they involve a conscious direction of the will towards the achievement of some purpose. This contrasts with accidental or involuntary actions, which lack the same kind of intentional structure.
Anscombe’s philosophical work on intentionality has been highly influential, impacting subsequent discussions in the philosophy of mind, action theory, and ethics. Her assertion that "Intentionality is the mark of the mental" underscores the complex nature of our mental lives—highlighting that our thoughts, beliefs, desires, and intentions are fundamentally about our engagement with the world around us. This perspective has been instrumental in refuting reductionist accounts of the mind and in establishing the importance of mental phenomena for understanding human behavior and morality.
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