It seems to me obvious that infants and many animals that…
“It seems to me obvious that infants and many animals that do not in any ordinary sense have a language or perform speech acts nonetheless have Intentional states. Only someone in the grip of a philosophical theory would deny that small babies can literally be said to want milk and that dogs want to be let out or believe that their master is at the door.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Infants and many animals exhibit intentional states and language‑like behavior despite lacking formal language.
In simple terms: Animals and infants show intentional communication.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge non‑human and pre‑linguistic cognition.
Themes
philosophy
mind
language
animal cognition
development
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
theoretical
ethical
When to use this quote
- Early childhood education
- animal welfare
- AI perception modeling
- psychology research
Key Concepts
Intentionality
theory of mind
proto‑language
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we differentiate true intentionality from reflex?
- What ethical implications arise from attributing language to animals?
A Different Perspective
Interpretations of intent can be anthropomorphic.