Intention Talks

An intention is a mental state in which a person commits themselves to a course of action. Having the plan to visit the zoo tomorrow is an example of an intention. The action plan is the content of the intention while the commitment is the attitude towards this content. Other mental states can have action plans as their content, as when one admires a plan, but differ from intentions since they do not involve a practical commitment to realizing this plan. Successful intentions bring about the intended course of action while unsuccessful intentions fail to do so. Intentions, like many other mental states, have intentionality: they represent possible states of affairs.

Theories of intention try to capture the characteristic features of intentions. The belief-desire theory is the traditionally dominant approach. According to a simple version of it, having an intention is nothing but having a desire to perform a certain action and a belief that one will perform this action. Belief-desire theories are frequently criticized based on the fact that neither beliefs nor desires involve a practical commitment to performing an action, which is often illustrated in various counterexamples. The evaluation theory tries to overcome this problem by explaining intentions in terms of unconditional evaluations. That is to say that intentions do not just present the intended course of action as good in some respect, as is the case for desires, but as good all things considered. This approach has problems in explaining cases of akrasia, i.e. that agents do not always intend what they see as the best course of action. A closely related theory identifies intentions not with unconditional evaluations but with predominant desires. It states that intending to do something consists in desiring it the most. Opponents of this approach have articulated various counterexamples with the goal of showing that intentions do not always coincide with the agent's strongest desire. A different approach to the theories mentioned so far is due to Elizabeth Anscombe and denies the distinction between intentions and actions. On her view, to intend a goal is already a form of acting towards this goal and therefore not a distinct mental state. This account struggles to explain cases in which intentions and actions seem to come apart, as when the agent is not currently doing anything towards realizing their plan or in the case of failed actions. The self-referentiality theory suggests that intentions are self-referential, i.e. that they do not just represent the intended course of action but also represent themselves as the cause of the action. But the claim that this happens on the level of the content of the intention has been contested.

The term "intention" refers to a group of related phenomena. For this reason, theorists often distinguish various types of intentions in order to avoid misunderstandings. The most-discussed distinction is that between prospective and immediate intentions. Prospective intentions, also known as "prior intentions", involve plans for the future. They can be subdivided according to how far they plan ahead: proximal intentions involve plans for what one wants to do straightaway whereas distal intentions are concerned with a more remote future. Immediate intentions, on the other hand, are intentions that guide the agent while they are performing the action in question. They are also called "intentions-in-action" or "act-related" intentions. The term "intention" usually refers to anticipated means or ends that motivate the agent. But in some cases, it can refer to anticipated side-effects that are neither means nor ends to the agent. In this case, the term "oblique intention" is sometimes used. Intentions are rationally evaluable: they are either rational or irrational. Conscious intentions are the paradigmatic form of intention: in them, the agent is aware of their goals. But it has been suggested that actions can also be guided by unconscious intentions of which the agent is not aware.

The formation of intentions is sometimes preceded by the deliberation of promising alternative courses of action and may happen in decisions, in which the agent chooses between these alternatives. Intentions are responsible for initiating, sustaining, and terminating actions and are frequently used to explain why people engage in a certain behavior. Understanding the behavior of others in terms of intentions already happens in early childhood. Important in this context is the role of gestures, pointing, attention, and eye movement to understand the intentions of others and to form shared intentions. In the philosophy of action, a central question is whether it is true for all intentional actions that they are caused or accompanied by intentions. The theory of reasoned action aims to predict behavior based on how pre-existing attitudes and subjective norms determine behavioral intentions. In ethics, the intention principle states that whether an action is morally permissible sometimes depends on the agent's intention for performing this action.

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Title Speaker

Yoga and Meditation

OSB Cam, Yoga, Meditation, Grace, Buddha, Precepts, Sutra, Intention
Jun 2009
1 of 4
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Openness

Serial: NC-00770

Retreat Conference. Openess

OSB Cam, Openness, resistance, Intuition, Forgiveness, Intention, Enemies
May 2007
Part 4 (of 5)
New Camaldoli Hermitage

The Brief Rule of St. Romuald

Serial: NC-00054

The Little Rule of Saint Romuald

Archival Photo

OSB Cam, Romuald, Brief Rule of St. Romuald, Emptiness, Monastic Practice, zen,...
2003
3 of 4
New Camaldoli Hermitage

September 5th, 1995, Serial No. 00283

Serial: NC-00283

New Testament Class

OSB Cam, realization, Oneness, Enlightenment, Intention
Sep 05 1995

July 25th, 1995, Serial No. 00278

Serial: NC-00278

New Testament Class

OSB Cam, Oneness, Darkness and Light, Intention, Separation
Jul 25 1995

The Triple Good / Applications

Serial: NC-00016

Part of "Romualdian/Camaldolese/Benedictine Spirituality"

2. The Triple Good / Applications

Archival Photo

OSB Cam, Vow, lecture, Fasting, training, Intention
1995
2 of 4
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Camaldolese Spirituality: General Historical Overview / Implications

Serial: NC-00017

Part of "Romualdian/Camaldolese/Benedictine Spirituality"

3. General Historical Overview / Implications

Archival Photo

OSB Cam, Money, War, Anger, Intention
1995
3 of 4
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Contemplative Prayer: Practice of the Presence of God

Serial: NC-00931

Contemplative Prayer class. Practice of the Presence of God

Commitment, Breath, Continuous Practice, Intention, Lovingkindness
Oct 18 1994
6 of 7
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Contemplative Prayer

Serial: NC-00928

Contemplative Prayer class

Daily Life, Addiction, Intimacy, Intention, Compassion
Sep 1994
3 of 7
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Monastic History

Serial: NC-00330

Monastic History Class

OSB Cam, Fasting, zen, Politics, Vow, Intention
Jan 05 1994
7 of 34
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Monastic Spirituality for the Christian in the World

Serial: NC-00080B

Monastic Spirituality for the Christian in the World

Archival Photo

OSB Cam, Monastic Practice, Ego, Enthusiasm, Intention
1993
2 of 6
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Monastic Spirituality for the Christian in the World

Serial: NC-00081B

Monastic Spirituality for the Christian in the World

Archival Photo

OSB Cam, Vow, Balance, Commitment, Monastic Practice, Intention
1993
4 of 6
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Monastic Spirituality for the Christian in the World

Serial: NC-00082A

Monastic Spirituality for the Christian in the World

Archival Photo

OSB Cam, Enemies, Commitment, Compassion, Intention, Emotions
1993
5 of 6
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Monastic Spirituality for the Christian in the World

Serial: NC-00082B

Monastic Spirituality for the Christian in the World

Archival Photo

OSB Cam, Anger, Suzuki Roshi, Intention, Money, Mindfulness
1993
6 of 6
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Walter Hilton

Serial: NC-00090

Part of "The English Mystics"

Conference 3: Walter Hilton

Archival Photo

OSB Cam, Enthusiasm, Diversity, Monkey Mind, Intention, Fasting
1993
3 of 4
New Camaldoli Hermitage

The Cloud of Unknowing

Serial: NC-00091

Part of "The English Mystics"

Conference 4: The Cloud of Unknowing

Archival Photo

OSB Cam, Intention, Ego, Intuition, Fasting, Offering
1993
4 of 4
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Theology and Lectio Divina

Serial: NC-00487

Theology and Lectio, Conference #6, (Conference #2 not recorded)

OSB Cam, Secret place of prayer, lecture, Intuition, Concentration, Separation,...
Jul 1991
6 of 6
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Rule of St. Benedict

Serial: NC-01061

Rule of St. Benedict lecture series

OSB Cam, Patience, Daily Life, stubbornness, Intention
Dec 1987
2 of 6
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Rule of St. Benedict

Serial: NC-01062

Rule of St. Benedict lecture series

OSB Cam, Practice Period, Funeral, Delusion, Instruction, Intention
Dec 1987
3 of 6
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Rule of St. Benedict

Serial: NC-01064

Rule of St. Benedict lecture series

OSB Cam, Happiness, Continuous Practice, Observe, Anger, Intention
Dec 1987
5 of 6
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Life of the Five Brothers

Serial: NC-00654

Seminar on Life of the Five Brothers

OSB Cam, Camaldolese History, War, Repentance, Emotions, zen, Intention
Oct 1987
1 of 3
New Camaldoli Hermitage

1987, Serial No. 00915

OSB Cam, Intention, Patience, Diversity, Intimacy, realization
1987
13-14 of 14

1987, Serial No. 00920

OSB Cam, Intention, training, Conversation, Concentration, Enemies
1987
3-4 of 14

1986, Serial No. 00481

Serial: NC-00481

Saint John

OSB Cam, Darkness and Light, realization, Intention, Continuous Practice, Demons...
1986

Chapel Talks

Serial: NC-00645

Year Talk 2/2

OSB Cam, Attachment, Intention, Forgiveness, training, War
Oct 17 1985
Shantivanam Ashram

Gospel of John and the Christian Wisdom Tradition

Serial: NC-00555

Retreat on the Gospel of John

OSB Cam, Intimacy, Intention, Hindrances, Pain, Continuous Practice
Dec 10 1984
1 of 5
Utah

John Class #15

Serial: NC-00560

Lecture on Gospel of John.

OSB Cam, Mandala, Balance, Thoroughness, Hate, Intention
Mar 26 1984

Introduction to Theology, Serial No. 01119

OSB Cam, Intention, First Principle, Beginners, Separation, Diversity
Feb 1984
6 of 19
New Clairvaux Abbey

Introduction to Theology, Serial No. 01124

OSB Cam, Ceremony, lecture, Intention, Funeral, Intimacy
Feb 1984
11 of 19
New Clairvaux Abbey

Introduction to Theology, Serial No. 01125

OSB Cam, lecture, Intention, Transmission, Money, Obstacles
Feb 1984
12 of 19
New Clairvaux Abbey

Introduction to Theology, Serial No. 01126

OSB Cam, lecture, War, Transmission, Intention, Sanctuary
Feb 1984
1 of 19
New Clairvaux Abbey

Introduction to Theology, Serial No. 01127

OSB Cam, lecture, Intention, resistance, Instruction
Feb 1984
2 of 19
New Clairvaux Abbey

Oxford Fathers Conference Talks

Serial: NC-00813

"Oxford Fathers Conference Talks"

OSB Cam, Oxford Movement, lecture, Obstacles, Intention
Sep 25 1983

August 18th, 1982, Serial No. 00997

Serial: NC-00997

Monastic Spirituality, Set 7 of 12

OSB Cam, Ego, Happiness, Oneness, Hate, Intention
Aug 18 1982

January 28th, 1982, Serial No. 00684

Serial: NC-00684

Monastic Spirituality Set 5 of 12

Intention, Breath, confusion, Separation
Jan 28 1982

January 13th, 1982, Serial No. 00686

Serial: NC-00686

Monastic Spirituality Set 5 of 12

Monastic Practice, Ego, Daily Life, Intention, Fasting
Jan 13 1982

March 26th, 1981, Serial No. 00798

Serial: NC-00798

Monastic Spirituality Set 2 of 12

OSB Cam, Conversation, Vow, Commitment, Intention, Liberation
Mar 26 1981

History of Christian Spirituality

Serial: NC-01207

Part of "The History of Christian Spirituality" class

OSB Cam, Diversity, Anger, Intention, Commitment, Money
Oct 1980
3 of 7
New Camaldoli Hermitage

November 1979 talk, Serial No. 00901

OSB Cam, Diversity, Politics, Darkness and Light, zen, Intention
Nov 1979

Unknown Date, Serial 00227

Serial: NC-00227

Archival Photo

Cultivation, Continuous Practice, Compassion, realization, Intention
[field_wisdom_date]

Unknown Date, Serial 00223

Serial: NC-00223

Archival Photo

training, Emptiness, Cultivation, Intention, Dragons
[field_wisdom_date]

Introduction to Holy Scripture: The Exodus of the People of God

OSB Cam, Intention, Cultivation, Diversity, Oneness, Enlightenment
[field_wisdom_date]
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Unknown Date, Serial 00986

OSB Cam, Intention, Enemies, Anger, Diversity, Commitment
[field_wisdom_date]