Because symbols are either present or absent and have no partial effects or gradations {brittleness, symbol}|, symbols are not apt for images, tastes, sounds, touch, and smell. Unlike sense qualities, symbols do not form or strengthen statistically. Symbols are about high-level wholes, not about parts. Symbols are for propositions and knowledge structures. Small local changes can affect concepts and accuracy greatly.
Minds have motivations {conation}.
Minds have emotions {affect, mind}.
Minds have beliefs, hopes, fears, ideas, and other symbol collections {intention, mind} that are about something else. Physical objects cannot themselves be about something else. Conscious sense qualities and subjective experiences can be intentions.
consciousness
Intentions do not have to be conscious, because mental states, linguistic representations, and non-linguistic representations can be about something else but are not necessarily conscious. Conscious states, such as moods, can be not intentional. Lowest-level parts are intentional, so higher levels do not explain intentionality.
meaning
Computations are only syntactical, but intentions are semantic.
people
Only people have desires, hopes, beliefs, and attitudes about what they are, are capable of, want to do, like to be, and ought to be.
Outline of Knowledge Database Home Page
Description of Outline of Knowledge Database
Date Modified: 2022.0225