Intensionalists

Intensionalists are a group of philosophers who argue that the meaning of a term or expression is determined by its internal structure or the way it is used, rather than by the objects or entities it refers to. This perspective contrasts with extensionalism, which holds that the meaning of a term is determined solely by the objects or entities it refers to, regardless of how it is used. Intensionalists often focus on the context in which a term is used, the intentions of the speaker, or the possible worlds in which the term could be true. They may also be interested in the logical and semantic properties of terms, such as their truth conditions, sense, and reference. Intensionalists have been influential in various areas of philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of language. Some notable figures in the intensionalist tradition include Gottlob Frege, Bertrand Russell, and Saul Kripke.