Intention Talks
An intention is a mental state in which the agent commits themselves to a course of action. Having the plan to visit the zoo tomorrow is an example of an intention. The action plan is the content of the intention while the commitment is the attitude towards this content. Other mental states can have action plans as their content, as when one admires a plan, but differ from intentions since they do not involve a practical commitment to realizing this plan. Successful intentions bring about the intended course of action while unsuccessful intentions fail to do so. Intentions, like many other mental states, have intentionality: they represent possible states of affairs.
Theories of intention try to capture the characteristic features of intentions. The belief-desire theory is the traditionally dominant approach. According to a simple version of it, having an intention is nothing but having a desire to perform a certain action and a belief that one will perform this action. Belief-desire theories are frequently criticized based on the fact that neither beliefs nor desires involve a practical commitment to performing an action, which is often illustrated in various counterexamples. The evaluation theory tries to overcome this problem by explaining intentions in terms of unconditional evaluations. That is to say that intentions do not just present the intended course of action as good in some respect, as is the case for desires, but as good all things considered. This approach has problems in explaining cases of akrasia, i.e. that agents do not always intend what they see as the best course of action. A closely related theory identifies intentions not with unconditional evaluations but with predominant desires. It states that intending to do something consists in desiring it the most. Opponents of this approach have articulated various counterexamples with the goal of showing that intentions do not always coincide with the agent's strongest desire. A different approach to the theories mentioned so far is due to Elizabeth Anscombe and denies the distinction between intentions and actions. On her view, to intend a goal is already a form of acting towards this goal and therefore not a distinct mental state. This account struggles to explain cases in which intentions and actions seem to come apart, as when the agent is not currently doing anything towards realizing their plan or in the case of failed actions. The self-referentiality theory suggests that intentions are self-referential, i.e. that they do not just represent the intended course of action but also represent themselves as the cause of the action. But the claim that this happens on the level of the content of the intention has been contested.
The term "intention" refers to a group of related phenomena. For this reason, theorists often distinguish various types of intentions in order to avoid misunderstandings. The most-discussed distinction is that between prospective and immediate intentions. Prospective intentions, also known as "prior intentions", involve plans for the future. They can be subdivided according to how far they plan ahead: proximal intentions involve plans for what one wants to do straightaway whereas distal intentions are concerned with a more remote future. Immediate intentions, on the other hand, are intentions that guide the agent while they are performing the action in question. They are also called "intentions-in-action" or "act-related" intentions. The term "intention" usually refers to anticipated means or ends that motivate the agent. But in some cases, it can refer to anticipated side-effects that are neither means nor ends to the agent. In this case, the term "oblique intention" is sometimes used. Intentions are rationally evaluable: they are either rational or irrational. Conscious intentions are the paradigmatic form of intention: in them, the agent is aware of their goals. But it has been suggested that actions can also be guided by unconscious intentions of which the agent is not aware.
The formation of intentions is sometimes preceded by the deliberation of promising alternative courses of action and may happen in decisions, in which the agent chooses between these alternatives. Intentions are responsible for initiating, sustaining, and terminating actions and are frequently used to explain why people engage in a certain behavior. Understanding the behavior of others in terms of intentions already happens in early childhood. Important in this context is the role of gestures, pointing, attention, and eye movement to understand the intentions of others and to form shared intentions. In the philosophy of action, a central question is whether it is true for all intentional actions that they are caused or accompanied by intentions. The theory of reasoned action aims to predict behavior based on how pre-existing attitudes and subjective norms determine behavioral intentions. In ethics, the intention principle states that whether an action is morally permissible sometimes depends on the agent's intention for performing this action.
Title | Speaker | |
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1991.02.22-serial.00091 Intention, Desire, causation, Peace, Addiction |
Feb 22 1991 |
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1991.02.07-serial.00095 Intention, Community, Describe, Thich Nhat Hanh, Culture |
Feb 07 1991 |
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1990.12.06-serial.00084 Intention, Avalokiteshvara, Forgiveness, Culture, Bowing |
Dec 06 1990 |
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1990.12.06-serial.00085 Intention, Avalokiteshvara, Forgiveness, Culture, Bowing |
Dec 06 1990 |
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Emptiness and Compassion: Public Talk Serial 00058 Subject-and-Object, Continuous, Ego, Beginners, Observe, Duality, Intention, Building... |
Nov 13 1988 |
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Parting from the 4 Attachments Serial 00036 Intention, Patience, Describe, Freedom, Building, Beginners, Intuition, Continuous,... |
Nov 10 1988 Part 2 |
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1988.07.29-serial.00061 Enemies, Intention, Intimacy, Vows, Gratitude |
Jul 29 1988 |
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Visualization in Vajrayana Practice Serial 00002 Culture, Politics, Intention, difficulty, Beginners |
Apr 16 1988 Tape 2 |
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Rule of St. BenedictSerial: NC-01061 Rule of St. Benedict lecture series OSB Cam, Patience, Daily Life, Echo, stubbornness, Intention |
Dec 1987 2 of 6 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Rule of St. BenedictSerial: NC-01062 Rule of St. Benedict lecture series OSB Cam, Practice Period, Funeral, Delusion, Instruction, Intention |
Dec 1987 3 of 6 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Rule of St. BenedictSerial: NC-01064 Rule of St. Benedict lecture series OSB Cam, Happiness, Continuous, Observe, Anger, Intention |
Dec 1987 5 of 6 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Life of the Five BrothersSerial: NC-00654 Seminar on Life of the Five Brothers OSB Cam, Camaldolese History, War, Repentance, Emotions, zen, Intention |
Oct 1987 1 of 3 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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1987.05.10-serial.00246A Thich Nhat Hanh, Equanimity, Intention, Daily Life |
May 10 1987 |
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1987, Serial No. 00915OSB Cam, Intention, Patience, Diversity, Intimacy, realization |
1987 13-14 of 14 |
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1987, Serial No. 00920OSB Cam, Intention, training, Conversation, Concentration, Enemies |
1987 3-4 of 14 |
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1986, Serial No. 00481Serial: NC-00481 Saint John OSB Cam, Darkness and Light, realization, Intention, Continuous, Demons |
1986 |
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December 7th, 1985, Serial No. 00163 Emotions, Intention, Posture, Consciousness, Ego, Passions, Oneness, Discrimination,... |
Dec 07 1985 |
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December 7th, 1985, Serial No. 00364 Emotions, Intention, Posture, Consciousness, Oneness, Ego, Subject-and-Object,... |
Dec 07 1985 |
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December 6th, 1985, Serial No. 00371 Attachment, Compassion, New Year, Don't Know Mind, Consciousness, resistance,... |
Dec 06 1985 |
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December 6th, 1985, Serial No. 00385 Consciousness, Ego, Buddha Nature, Mindfulness, Subject-and-Object, Delusion, Samadhi... |
Dec 06 1985 |
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Vajrayogini Q&A, Serial 00093 Part B Teacher-and-Student, Evil, Intention, American, Continuous, confusion, Monks... |
Oct 25 1985 B |
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Chapel TalksSerial: NC-00645 Year Talk 2/2 OSB Cam, Attachment, Intention, Forgiveness, training, War |
Oct 17 1985 Shantivanam Ashram |
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Hevajra Sadhana Serial 00007 Two Truths, Intention, confusion, Balance, Continuous, Emotions, Duality, Hate, Bell... |
Oct 15 1985 Tape 2 |
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Hevajra Sadhana Serial 00038 Intention, confusion, Balance, Continuous, Emotions, Duality, Hate, Bell, Evil... |
Oct 14 1985 Tape 2 |
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January 14th, 1985, Serial No. 00168 Concentration, Compassion, Lay, Soto Zen, Mindfulness, Don't Know Mind,... |
Jan 14 1985 |
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Gospel of John and the Christian Wisdom TraditionSerial: NC-00555 Retreat on the Gospel of John OSB Cam, Intimacy, Intention, Hindrances, Pain, Continuous |
Dec 10 1984 1 of 5 Utah |
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Conflict Between Intention versus DesireSerial: BZ-00434B "What to do with our Oni (devil)", Sesshin Day 2
Intention, Desire, resistance, training, Daily Life, Tassajara, Demons, Silence, Evil... |
May 20 1984 Berkeley Zen Center |
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The Spirit of the Mahayana, Serial 00033 Two Truths, Evil, Diversity, Intention, Peace, American |
May 13 1984 3rd session New York City |
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1984.04.07-serial.00242 Big Mind, Samadhi, Vows, Bell, Intention |
Apr 07 1984 |
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John Class #15Serial: NC-00560 Lecture on Gospel of John. OSB Cam, Mandala, Balance, Thoroughness, Hate, Intention |
Mar 26 1984 |
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1984.02.23-serial.00281 Right Effort, Practice Period, Concentration, Emptiness, Intention |
Feb 23 1984 |
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1984.02.13-serial.00311 Delusion, Blue Cliff Record, Freedom, Intimacy, Intention |
Feb 13 1984 |
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Introduction to Theology, Serial No. 01119OSB Cam, Intention, First Principle, Beginners, Separation, Diversity |
Feb 1984 6 of 19 New Clairvaux Abbey |
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Introduction to Theology, Serial No. 01124OSB Cam, Ceremony, lecture, Intention, Funeral, Intimacy |
Feb 1984 11 of 19 New Clairvaux Abbey |
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Introduction to Theology, Serial No. 01125OSB Cam, lecture, Intention, Transmission, Money, Obstacles |
Feb 1984 12 of 19 New Clairvaux Abbey |
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Introduction to Theology, Serial No. 01126OSB Cam, lecture, War, Transmission, Intention, Sanctuary |
Feb 1984 1 of 19 New Clairvaux Abbey |
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Introduction to Theology, Serial No. 01127OSB Cam, lecture, Intention, resistance, Instruction |
Feb 1984 2 of 19 New Clairvaux Abbey |
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Oxford Fathers Conference TalksSerial: NC-00813 "Oxford Fathers Conference Talks" OSB Cam, Oxford Movement, lecture, Echo, Obstacles, Intention |
Sep 25 1983 |
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Mahamudra & Chenrezig meditation instructions, Serial 00082 Right Effort, Duality, Non-duality, Delusion, Observe, Hindrances, Intention,... |
Dec 05 1982 A Tape II, DR65 |
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August 18th, 1982, Serial No. 00997Serial: NC-00997 Monastic Spirituality, Set 7 of 12 OSB Cam, Ego, Happiness, Oneness, Hate, Intention |
Aug 18 1982 |
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1982.08.15-serial.00108 resistance, Freedom, Daily Life, Intuition, Politics, Echo, Religion, Ego, Intention... |
Aug 15 1982 |
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January 28th, 1982, Serial No. 00684Serial: NC-00684 Monastic Spirituality Set 5 of 12 Intention, Breath, confusion, Separation |
Jan 28 1982 |
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January 13th, 1982, Serial No. 00686Serial: NC-00686 Monastic Spirituality Set 5 of 12 Monastic Practice, Ego, Daily Life, Intention, Fasting |
Jan 13 1982 |
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March 26th, 1981, Serial No. 00798Serial: NC-00798 Monastic Spirituality Set 2 of 12 OSB Cam, Conversation, Vows, Commitment, Intention, Liberation |
Mar 26 1981 |
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History of Christian SpiritualitySerial: NC-01207 Part of "The History of Christian Spirituality" class OSB Cam, Diversity, Anger, Intention, Commitment, Money |
Oct 1980 3 of 7 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Ngon Dro, and sleep yoga of Amitabha, Serial 00011 Buddha Nature, Conversation, Breath, Hindrances, Intention, Describe, Beginners... |
Apr 20 1980 |
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Ngon Dro, Serial 00012 Passions, Chanting, Commitment, lecture, Precepts, Duality, Intention, Bell,... |
Mar 23 1980 New York City |
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Ngon Dro, Serial 00057 Passions, Current Events, Commitment, Bell, lecture, Duality, Intention, Hate,... |
Mar 23 1980 New York City |
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Ngon Dro: Vajrasattva, Serial 00055 Precepts, Mindfulness, Balance, Patience, Hindrances, Intention, Non-duality,... |
Mar 15 1980 |
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Ngon Dro: Vajrasattva, copy, Serial 00056 Japan, Intention, Passions, Evil, Precepts, Breath, Hindrances, Commitment, Non-... |
Mar 15 1980 |