Problem of Intentionality Quote

The problem of how a mental state can refer to or be about something beyond itself is the problem of intentionality.

It is absolutely essential to be clear about the distinction between the intrinsic or original intentionality that I have in my head when I am thinking about something and the derivative intentionality that the marks on paper have when I write my thoughts down. The words on paper really do mean and refer, and thus have intentionality, but their intentionality is derived from mine when I intentionally wrote them down. Also we need to distinguish these two, the original and the derived, from metaphorical ascriptions, or as-if cases of intentionality. If I am now thirsty that is a case of intrinsic or original intentionality. If I write down the sentence, “I am thirsty” that sentence has derived intentionality. If I say, “My car is thirsty for gasoline” that sentence makes a metaphorical or “as-if” ascription of thirst to the car. But the car does not literally have any intentionality, either original or derived. I cannot tell you how much confusion has been generated by the failure to see these elementary distinctions.

Searle, John R. (2004-11-01). Mind: A Brief Introduction (Fundamentals of Philosophy) (p. 29). Oxford University Press - A. Kindle Edition.