Often intentionality and finding the intentions behind an action is considered a high level brain function. This is evident in TOM (theory of the mind). A rational approach requires however time consuming mental processes, as illustrated by the elaboration of psychological theories. Hence, approximate, even incorrect intention attribution, in a more bayesian perspective, has a heuristic value in behavioral adaptation This relates to the renewed interest for the citation : «ces mystères nous dépassent feignons d'en être les organisateurs» from Jean Cocteau, Les Mariés de la tour Eiffel (1921). Thank you for intuitively as well as theoretically informed comments.
This is not an answer. I merely add more questions.
Intentionality and intention understanding, did they arise simultaneously in evolution?
Intentionality has to do with relatively early evolutionary acquisitions (distal perception and animal consciousness). Yes, I accept this.
But, with regard to intention understanding, it must be differentiated (this would be the first, most urgent task) from expectations ('predictions') of events. These expectations would be present early in evolution. What about other type of intention understanding?
good day to all, at first. I think is possible to consider intension as something proper of any creature with a will (more or less developed), any creature with a brain complex enough to take a decision (and not obliged to react in an automatic way every time at the same similar conditions). Those skill/property/ability is significant to increase the possibility to succede and survive. Intentionality is more complex, to think that others have a plan or expectations and a their own mind about something (or anything, if we consider human beings) is proper of creature with higt function brains and cognitive skills, self awarness and consciousness are necessari pre-requisites. The last one seems to me more like a late result than an headstart of the early period of existence of a spices.
Intentionality (aboutness) in evolution is a performance that has existed before humans. If we begin with an inert universe before life came up we find matter submitted to physico-chemical laws present everywhere. The coming up of life added local constraints to that universe submitted to ubiquist laws. “Maintain far from thermodynamic equilibrium in a defined volume” has probably been the first local constraint. It characterized living entities. This can be worded as a “stay alive“ constraint that applies to the living entitry, and not to its surroundings. The “aboutness” of information is there related to a “bio-intentionality”. Then humans came in with new constraints like “look for happiness” with human intentionality. So one can look at intentionality in evolution as related to internal constraint satisfaction. And it is worth noticing that a system submitted to an internal constraint naturaly introduces the concept of “meaning generation”. More on that in a couple of presentations: https://philpapers.org/rec/MENBAM-2 https://philpapers.org/rec/MENICA-2 Christophe
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