intentioners

Intentioner refers to an agent that can bear and act on intentional states, such as beliefs and desires, in order to bring about future outcomes. The term is used across philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence to distinguish entities that engage in goal-directed action from purely mechanical processes. An intentioner forms intentions—plans or resolutions about how to achieve goals—and organizes perceptions, actions, and decisions to realize those goals. This contrasts with reflexive or automatic responses that do not involve deliberation about outcomes or purposes.

In classic theories, humans and many nonhuman animals with sufficiently complex cognition are considered intentioners, since they can represent aims, expect outcomes, and adjust behavior in light of feedback. Artificial systems may also be described as intentioners when they operate under explicit goals or utility functions and engage in planning and deliberation.

Debates surround the status of intention in artificial agents: does functional goal-directed behavior constitute genuine intentionality, or is it merely outward similarity? Some philosophers require inner mental states and subjective experiences; others adopt a functionalist or intentional stance, treating systems as intentioners if their behavior is explainable by beliefs and desires.

Related concepts include intentionality, agent, rationality, and goal-directed behavior. The term is primarily descriptive and context-dependent, with definitions varying by discipline and theoretical framework.