Intension

Intension is a term used in philosophy, linguistics, and logic to describe the intrinsic meaning or concept associated with a term or predicate. It refers to the defining attributes, qualities, or features that characterize the sense of a word or phrase, as opposed to its reference, which is the actual object or set of objects the term denotes in the real world.

In linguistic and philosophical contexts, intension is often contrasted with extension. While extension pertains to the actual objects or entities that a term applies to (for example, the extension of "dog" includes all dogs in the world), intension focuses on the mental or conceptual content that constitutes the meaning of the term. For example, the intension of "dog" might include concepts such as "a domesticated carnivorous mammal, typically with a long snout, a keen sense of smell, and a loyalty to humans."

The concept of intension is fundamental to theories of semantics and meaning. It helps explain how different words can have similar or distinct meanings and how context influences understanding. In logic, the intension of a term helps determine its truth value within different possible worlds or interpretations, emphasizing that meaning is more than just referencing objects.

Understanding intension is crucial in fields like philosophy of language, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science, where accurately capturing the meaning of terms is essential for effective communication, reasoning, and knowledge representation.

In summary, intension refers to the conceptual content or meaning of a term, serving as a building block for analyzing language, meaning, and cognition.