Expressions of Intentions

Abstract

A characterization of the distinctive features of expressions and confessions of intention is now in order. Two kinds of cases are prominent. First, there are those in which an agent expresses, avows or accepts a further intention in acting. Anscombe’s example remains useful: In operating a pump a man may be replenishing a water supply, and while it is true that the supply of water is being replenished, he is up to poisoning the inhabitants whose water it is, since he is pumping water with the further intention of poisoning the inhabitants. Or, another case of the same kind, in speaking to another person, one may be offending him, or although he was offended, the speaker only had in mind giving him some information. The man poisoning the inhabitants or giving some information may express, confess, avow, acknowledge or accept the attribution of such an intention; his language, if he uses any, will typically have a past reference, ‘I did it (was doing it) to poison them,’ or ‘I said it to inform him.’ Expressions of intention are used here to explain what was done, to put the agent’s truthful view of it in the right light. Truthfulness here depends on the fact that the agent intended to do what he now expresses as the intention with which he acted.