# Intensional vs. Extensional Summary::Two ways to view the world according the general smantics. # Intensional I think the best way to describe intensional is the idea of confusing the word with the thing itself. People with an intensional orientation get so preoccupied with words defining words that they forget to assure that the word they use associates with the real object. # Extensional the extensional orientation consistently refers the words we use back to the experience or having. Disorientation make sure that our communication with other people is clear and precise. # Tools for Reflection indexes dating etc. # References / Links We should note the difference between “extension” and “intension.”  *The intensional orientation represents a preoccupation with words*, with words defining words, with doctrines and beliefs.  Intensionalization is piling words on words.  It makes good fantasy but doesn’t make life workable.  Intensional definitions are generalized characteristics of a class of entities, not descriptive of the entities themselves.  *A good example of intensional “madness” is our current political dialog*. *Extensional definitions embrace the unique quality of the experience* we are having.  Extension, said Korzybski, is consistent with the natural order of the nervous system.  Intensional definitions, he added, reverse the order, disrupt nervous function and endanger survival.  Extension separates and identifies specific instances and individuals and allow us to live more comfortably with the reality of the experience we are having; the problem we are trying to solve. Clipped from [General Semantics Bill Sharp |](https://rebtinfo.com/general-semantics-bill-sharp/) at 2023-07-27. ## Confusing the word (or our mental representation of something) with the thing-event itself. We respond to thing-events, objects and words in a certain way to give them meaning. This is a total evaluative response, which includes feelings, attitudes, body positions and movements - the totality of our response to the thing-event or object. We can confuse the meaning we give to a word or a mental image with the actual object or current experience. *We take the word **intension** to refer to our total evaluative response to the word or image that comes from its definitions and associations.* For example a dog can be defined as 'a four legged domestic pet which barks.' This can be considered the objective intension because most people in a given culture might accept it. One **person's subjective** **intension** might be 'a loyal friend.' Another's might be 'a frightening biting thing.' So when we say dog, for some people warm feelings are aroused, and for others fearful feelings. These feelings are aroused by the personal meaning of the word and not from an actual dog. *The **extension** here is taken to be the our perception of the object.* So the object referred to as dog might be a small object that licks us and rubs against us, or a large object that is barking at us as it tries to bite us. The extensional meaning is what we get from our senses and the intensional meaning is what we get from the word itself and its meanings. Whether we should be looking to escape or to stroke should depend on the extensional meaning rather than the intensional one! Having developed an intensional meaning for an object we tend to continue to use that meaning and we might continue to do so whatever the extensional meaning becomes. We continue to view someone as a friend even though we are getting reports that they are acting against us. We are sometimes very slow to review our evaluations even in the face of long term contradiction with the world of experience. *There are two errors here. One is that we continue with a general intensional meaning even when it does not work.* For example, we want to be rich and famous, but we aren't but we do not review and re-evaluate our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and behaviours We just continue on as before and hope or think the world is unfair. On the other hand, we get very angry with a loved one because we perceive something we don't like, and we do not perceive the whole situation such as they are unwell, tired, worried, or something. We can do this time and time again! We do not look and re-evaluate. https://trans4mind.com/personal_development/KenGenSemantics.htm#intension # Publication [Comparing Intensional & Extensional](https://clearthinking.substack.com/p/comparing-intensional-and-extensional) [Web Page](file:///E:/Web%20Sites/freemarketcenter%20-%20Backup%2005-09-2022/general_semantics/index.html) General Semantics - intersection of topics. ![[Comparing Intensional & Extensional.docx]] --- ## Related Topics --- # References Posted::[[Comparing Intensional & Extensional 1]] Language and Logic:[Comparing Intensional & Extensional](https://clearthinking.substack.com/p/comparing-intensional-and-extensional) [Abstraction and Insanity](obsidian://open?vault=Publications&file=Publications%2FAbstraction%20and%20Insanity)