Dintensionalité

Dintensionalité is a theoretical concept primarily explored in philosophy of mind and cognitive science. It refers to the idea that consciousness, or mental states in general, might possess inherent "dintentions" or intrinsic directedness, beyond mere intentionality. While intentionality describes the "aboutness" of mental states (e.g., a belief is about something), dintensionalité suggests an additional, deeper level of orientation or orientation *within* the conscious experience itself.

This concept posits that conscious states are not just directed outwards towards objects or propositions, but also possess an internal structure that guides or shapes how that directedness is experienced. It implies that the "way it feels" to be in a certain mental state is not solely determined by what the state is about, but also by its internal, dintensional qualities. Think of it as the difference between knowing a map shows Paris and actually experiencing the journey towards Paris, with all its associated feelings and perspectives.

Proponents argue that dintensionalité could help explain phenomena like qualia (the subjective qualitative aspects of experience) and the sense of agency. Critics, however, often find the concept difficult to define operationally or empirically, questioning whether it adds anything substantial beyond existing frameworks of intentionality and phenomenal consciousness. The debate surrounding dintensionalité continues to be an active area of philosophical inquiry.