Regulatory Intentionality in Artificial Systems
Anna Sarosiek
Proceedings December 24, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/proceedings2025126016 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Intentionality Cybernetics Artificial intelligence Regulation Homeostasis |
| Key points | Proposes that intentionality can be understood as a regulatory function, allowing even simple systems to exhibit minimal intentionality and treating it as a graded phenomenon. |
Abstract
Intentionality, understood as the capacity of systems to be “about” something, remains a central issue in the philosophy of mind and cognitive science. Classical approaches face significant limitations, especially when applied to artificial systems. Representationalism struggles with the symbol grounding problem, functionalism reduces intentionality to causal roles, and enactivism restricts it to biological organisms. This paper proposes a cybernetic perspective in which intentionality is conceived as a regulatory function. Feedback mechanisms and homeostasis enable systems to maintain stability and adapt to changing conditions. Even simple systems may, in this sense, exhibit minimal intentionality. Such an approach allows intentionality to be treated as a graded phenomenon and highlights new possibilities for understanding the agency of artificial intelligence.
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