The Normativity of Intentionality

Abstract

Davidson has been instrumental in dampening the pros¬pect of reductively explaining
the mind. The core of his arguments turns upon his insistence that contentful mental
states, the bread and butter of folk psychology, have a “normative element.” In spite
of its pivotal role, as well as its intrinsic interest, the concept is very poorly
developed and understood. This paper attempts to discern four differ¬ent strands of
the normativity of intentionality and to spark a long overdue systematic examination
of a fascinating and significant thesis.