On Searle's Theory Of Intentionality

The intentionality theory has been one of central thesis of philosophy of language since 1980s. This paper focuses on the essentiality of Searle's theory on intentionality and probes into its role in the problem of language and social relations .The pattern of this paper is to reveal the relationship among language, mind and the world. In the introduction,the developing course of philosophy of language is reviewed and Searle's theory on intentionality is briefly introduced as well. In Chapter I ,the paper discusses the mind , the consciousness and the intentionality,and introduces the preconditions of Searle's theory--the world which is an independent existence. In Chapter II, the paper discusses intentionality and meaning and indicates that the classification of Searle's theory on intentionality is from an individual perspective. With an analysis of the relevant theories of reference and meaning, the relation between reference and meaning is introduced from the perspective of intentionality. It also argues the essence of intentional causation which plays an important role in the intentionality theory. In Chapter III, the background of intentionality theory is analyzed as well as its relation between language and intentionality from a social perspective. And by the intentionality, the variety of mind-language-world is thoroughly shown.