[lojban] Re: brivla for 'intend'

[John Cowan <jcowan@reutershealth.com>]

robin scripsit:

> I would argue that with the possible 
> exception of unconscious reflexes, it is impossible to do something 
> without wanting to do it, but that's a controversial position.  

The trouble with this formulation is that it depends on what is and
what is not an "action".  For example, I cannot speak (neglecting
grunts) without wanting to speak, fair enough.  But suppose the
room in which I am speaking is, all unknown to me, bugged by X.
Then do you think it would be appropriate to say that I wanted to
be heard by X?  This seems bizarre and counterintuitive, yet given
the situation, being heard by X is an inevitable consequence of speaking.

Similarly, if I were shooting at a target behind which was standing
somebody (but I did not know that), and my bullet went through the target
and hit her, would you say that I wanted to hit her?

-- 
John Cowan                              <jcowan@reutershealth.com>
http://www.ccil.org/~cowan              http://www.reutershealth.com
Unified Gaelic in Cyrillic script!
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