Intentional Fallacy

Intentional Fallacy is the mistaken idea that a work’s true meaning or value can be determined solely by understanding the creator’s intentions or what they intended to communicate. In other words, analyzing a piece of art, literature, or music based only on what the creator claimed to mean can lead to an incomplete or inaccurate interpretation. Instead, many scholars argue that the meaning should be derived from the work itself—the words, structure, and experience—rather than relying on the creator’s stated purpose. It emphasizes focusing on the work as an independent entity rather than its creator’s intentions.