intentionality
Philosophical term referring to the directedness of mental states toward objects or states of affairs. Often used in phenomenology and philosophy of mind. Compare with 指向性 (directionality), which is more general and used in technical contexts like antennas or microphones.
See also: 指向性
In Husserl's phenomenology, the intentionality of consciousness is an important concept.
Intentionality refers to the property of mental states being about something.
From 志向 (しこう, 'intention, orientation') + 性 (せい, '-ity, -ness'). The term is a calque from German 'Intentionalität' or English 'intentionality', used in philosophical discourse.