Abstract

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Title:: Intentionality in categorization from perspective of philosophy of mind and cognition

Author(s):: WANG Hongxiao; 1. School of Foreign Studies, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, Shaanxi, China; 2. Institute ofForeign Languages and Literature, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, Shaanxi, China

Keywords:: categorization; intentionality; multidimension; cognitive linguistics; expression; family resemblance

Abstract:: To explore the intensionality of categorization, after the literature review on categorization and the introduction of intentionality, with case analysis and comparison,the intentionality in categorization is discussed from three aspects. The conclusions are that categorization is the result of human cognition and conceptualization in term of cognitive linguistics and the intentional cognition is universal; from the perspective of multidimension of objects, categorization follows the intentional choice and for the construction of category, the dimension of function is dominant due to the guide of selfcare and convenience; basic, superordinate and subordinate categories can satisfy the routine communication of human beings, so layman categorization is preferred over scientific categorization, which is, in fact, intentional.