Intention vs. Intension — What's the Difference?

Intention primarily relates to the purpose or aim behind an action or thought. It denotes one's resolve to execute a particular action or achieve a specific result. On the other hand, intension is a term used in logic and linguistics that pertains to the internal content or inherent attributes that make up the meaning of a term. For instance, when you intend to read a book, the goal is to acquire knowledge or entertainment. The intension of "book" could be pages, binding, text, etc.

Intention can be seen in the context of our everyday lives. When someone says they have the intention to exercise, it means they plan or aim to work out. Intension, conversely, is a more specialized term. If you take the word "dog", its intension encompasses ideas like mammal, four-legged, barks, etc.

While intention is forward-looking, indicating a future commitment, intension delves deeper into the present understanding or meaning of a term. For instance, if someone has the intention to become a vegetarian, they aim to change their diet in the future. The intension of "vegetarian" includes concepts like non-meat eater, plant-based diet, etc.

In essence, while intention points towards an anticipated action or result, intension points inward, drawing attention to the inherent qualities or attributes of a term. They may sound similar, but they have distinct roles in language and thought.