Definition
The intentional stance is a phrase from philosopher Daniel Dennett describing one of the strategies people use to predict and explain the world. To adopt it is to treat something as an agent — as if it has beliefs, desires, and goals — and then to predict what it will do on that basis.
The stance is enormously efficient. Rather than tracking the physical mechanics of a person or animal, we simply ask what they want and what they believe, and reason from there. It works because real agents do, in fact, tend to act on their beliefs and desires.
Why it matters
How it works
Dennett distinguishes the intentional stance from the physical stance (predicting by physics) and the design stance (predicting by function). The intentional stance is the most powerful for dealing with minds — but because it is so cheap and reliable, humans apply it generously.
Dawkins draws on this to argue that a brain tuned to detect agents will sometimes detect them where there are none. A purpose-seeking, agent-detecting mind is, on this account, fertile ground for belief in gods and spirits.