Intention
Words for “intention” vary by philosophical tradition, including the Sanskrit cetanā in Buddhism, which also means volition and is central to karma, and the Greek term telos (end or purpose) in Aristotelian philosophy. Other traditions use terms like intentio (Latin for direction) or intentionality (aiming towards an object), and in everyday philosophical discourse, words like purpose, aim, design, and will are common. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Buddhist philosophy
- Cetanā: A Sanskrit and Pali term that translates to “intention,” “volition,” or “mind”. It is considered the most important factor in creating karma because it determines the ethical nature of an action. [2]
Western philosophy
- Intentio: The Latin term for “direction” or “aim,” which became a key concept in medieval philosophy, particularly for Thomas Aquinas, referring to the mind’s directedness toward an object.
- Telos: A Greek word for “end” or “purpose,” famously used by Aristotle to describe the final cause or ultimate goal of a thing.
- Will: A core concept in Western philosophy, often discussed in relation to freedom and determinism. It refers to the faculty of making choices and decisions, and thus of forming intentions. [1, 3, 4, 5, 6]
General terms used across traditions
- Purpose: The reason for which something is done or created, or for which a thing exists.
- Aim: A goal or objective to be reached.
- Design: A plan or purpose behind an action or creation.
- Mind: The faculty of consciousness and thought, which is the seat of intentions.
- Volition: The power of using one’s will.
- Intentionality: The property of mental states to be about something, or to represent or be directed toward objects, states of affairs, or concepts. [1, 3, 4, 7]
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intention
[2] https://www.embodiedphilosophy.com/the-meaning-of-intention/
[3] https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/intention
[4] https://study.com/academy/lesson/intentionality-philosophy-overview-principles-application.html
[5] https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-11586-8_4
[6] https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-94-017-3270-3_1.pdf