Intentions in the Experience of Meaning

by Raymond W. Gibbs

• ISBN13: 9780521572453
• ISBN10: 0521572452
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-09-13
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

What do our assumptions about authorship matter for our experience of meaning? This book examines the debates in the humanities and social sciences over whether authorial intentions can, or should, constrain our interpretation of language and art. Scholars assume that understanding of linguistic and artistic meaning should not be constrained by beliefs about authors and their possible intentions in creating a human artifact. It is argued here that people are strongly disposed to infer intentionality when understanding oral speech, written texts, artworks, and many other human actions. Although ordinary people, and scholars, may infer meanings that diverge from, or extend beyond, what authors intend, our experience of human artifacts as meaningful is fundamentally tied to our assumptions of intentionality. This challenges the traditional ideas of intentions as existing solely in the minds of individuals, and formulates a new conceptual framework for examining if and when intentions influence the interpretation of meaning.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vii
Part I INTRODUCTION	1	(18)
Chapter 1 THE CONTROVERSY OVER INTENTIONS	3	(16)
Part II SEARCHING FOR INTENTIONS	19	(88)
Chapter 2 INTENTIONS AND INTENTIONAL ACTION	21	(19)
Chapter 3 MEANING AND COMMUNICATION	40	(29)
Chapter 4 INFERRING INTENTIONALITY IN EXPERIENCE	69	(38)
Part III INTENTIONS IN DISCOURSE	107	(96)
Chapter 5 SPOKEN LANGUAGE	109	(34)
Chapter 6 SAYING WHAT WE DON'T MEAN	143	(33)
Chapter 7 WRITING AND READING	176	(27)
Part IV INTENTIONS IN CRITICISM	203	(120)
Chapter 8 QUESTIONS OF AUTHORSHIP	205	(29)
Chapter 9 LITERARY INTERPRETATION AND CRITICISM	234	(39)
Chapter 10 INTERPRETING THE LAW	273	(20)
Chapter 11 UNDERSTANDING ART	293	(30)
Part V CONCLUSION	323	(16)
Chapter 12 THE INTENTIONAL MIND	325	(14)
Notes	339	(61)
Name Index	400	(9)
Subject Index	409