How is intentionality possible at all, given that intentional states are possible? How is their content determined, and how is intentionality related to the following concepts?

1) How is intentionality related to epistemology?
2) How is intentionality grounded in the neuronal structure of the brain?
3) How is intentionality related to intensionality?
4) How does the whole system of intentionality work?

Intentionality is possible through the mental states that represent external reality. Its content is determined by the way our conscious experiences align with these representations, and how our cognitive systems process and make sense of them. Regarding the relationship of intentionality to epistemology, it is foundational to our understanding and justification of knowledge. The grounding of intentionality in the neuronal structure is seen through the brain's biological processes, while the relation to intensionality lies in the semantic connection of thoughts and language. The whole system of intentionality operates as an interplay between mental states and the world we perceive and interact with.

Explanation:

Intentionality refers to the mind's capacity to direct itself toward something, be it an object, a concept, or a belief. It is this feature that allows thoughts to be about something and is a critical aspect of consciousness. Determining the content of intentional states involves understanding the relationship between thoughts and the objects or states they refer to, and how these are represented in the mind. In epistemology, intentionality is essential since it underpins how we acquire and justify knowledge—it's the mechanism by which we align our beliefs with reality.

When considering the neuronal underpinnings, researchers explore how brain structures and neural connections embody the processes that lead to intentional states. This is a field of study in cognitive neuroscience, which investigates the neural correlates of thought and how the physical substance of the brain can produce an intentional mind. The distinction between intentionality and intensionality, which often deals with the meaning and reference in language, shows how thoughts can be directed not just at real things but at possibilities, beliefs, and concepts regardless of their actual existence.

Lastly, the overall system of intentionality encompasses both the internal processes of cognition and the external factors of the world that influence thought. It operates through intricate and dynamic relations between perception, cognition, and response to the environment, facilitated by the brain's complex architecture and function.