On Searle's Theory Of Collective Intentionality

There is an intense debate about the problem of collective intentionality in the philosophy of mind. Currently, John Searle's theory of collective intentionality is regarded as guiding the mental turn of language philosophy research. Searle argued that the most important character of language was based on mental matters; therefore, meaning and intent existed beyond one's mental ability of language. Before we can clarify the nature of language, we must be clear about the ability. Because of the interdependence of Language and mind, it is worthwhile to do the research on collective intentionality. Since Searle's collective intentionality theory is built on a kind of biological naturalism, his collective intentionality is an individual entity that is different from any individual intentionality, so there is no subjective ontological existence associated with so called collective intentionality. Searle's theory serves scientifically a theoretic interpretation of results in reading both collective intentionality and individual intentionality. The theory is of profound theoretical significance and value.In the field of philosophy of mind, the issue of collective intentionality is not only the current research focus, but also an important theme of cognitive science. The issue is the core of how to promote the development of multi-disciplinary as well. Thus, in terms of Searle's theory of collective intentionality, this paper tries to show the role collective intentionality played in social philosophy. Searle's theory of intentionality occupies an irreplaceable important role in his philosophy, but Searle talks about collective intentionality just in case of giving a factor in constituting certain social system to the exclusion of giving further understanding of collective intentionality. So, combined with the consideration of correlations among collective intentionality, language and social system, this paper will start from Searle's theory of collective intentionality and try to give an objective and full reading of Searle's works.I will first give a comprehensive exposition of the Searle's intention theory. Then, I will probe in irreducible character of two kinds of intentionality and its relationship with Gilbert's thought of non-cumulative explanation, trying to find the original ontological existence of collective intentionality. Secondly, this paper will have a comprehensive analysis of the ontological language features, such as the characteristics of symbolic, public, divergent, and proclaiming, so that I can give a detail description of the correlation among language, intention and society and make a further step in reaching the original connection between facts of language, intentionality and social constitutions. Finally, I will give a summary of my research, and review the affection and defects of Searle's theory of collective intentionality.