The Structure of Intentionality

The aim of this chapter is to further reconstruct Searle’s theory of Intentionality. By proposing his principle of psychological reduction and the basic intentional states of belief and desire, Searle also analyzes the intentional characters in other human activities. The most important forms of intentional activities are intentional perception and intentional action. Searle’s elaborations on perception and action conclude with two crucial theses about Intentionality. First, Intentionality immanently involves a special kind of causal relation. Second, intentional activities are possible only under the condition of the preexistence of background. These two theses jointly lead the studies of Intentionality to the issues of normativity.