Intentionality and Meaning

Intentionality is the capacity of our minds to be directed toward or about something—thoughts, beliefs, desires are always about something outside ourselves. Meaning refers to the significance or content attached to those thoughts or symbols, like words or gestures. Together, intentionality and meaning explain how our mental states connect to the world around us, allowing us to communicate, understand, and navigate our environment. They are fundamental to how we interpret and give significance to what we think, say, and do.