The intentional fallacy is a term coined by literary critics W.K. Wimsatt and Monroe C. Beardsley in their 1946 essay "The Intentional Fallacy." It refers to the belief that the intentions or motivations of an artist, writer, or creator are relevant to the interpretation or evaluation of their work.
According to Wimsatt and Beardsley, the intentional fallacy is a mistake because it conflates the work itself with the intentions or motivations of the creator. They argue that a work of art should be judged on its own merits, independent of the artist's intentions or personal life. In other words, the work should be evaluated based on its form, structure, and content, rather than on the artist's thoughts or feelings.
The intentional fallacy is often contrasted with the affective fallacy, which is the belief that the emotional response or personal feelings of the reader or audience are relevant to the interpretation or evaluation of a work. Wimsatt and Beardsley argue that both fallacies are problematic because they distract from the work itself and lead to subjective or biased interpretations.
One of the main arguments for the intentional fallacy is that it is impossible to know the true intentions of an artist or writer. The artist may not even be aware of their own motivations, and even if they are, their explanations may not be reliable or accurate. Moreover, the artist's intentions may change over time or be subject to different interpretations. As a result, relying on the artist's intentions as a guide to interpretation can lead to misunderstandings or false conclusions.
However, it should be noted that the intentional fallacy has been subject to criticism and debate among literary critics and scholars. Some argue that the artist's intentions are important for understanding the context or meaning of a work, and that ignoring them can lead to a lack of depth or nuance in interpretation. Others argue that the intentional fallacy can be useful as a heuristic, but that it should not be taken as a strict rule in all cases.
Overall, the intentional fallacy is an important concept in literary criticism and theory, but it should be approached with caution and considered in context. While it is important to focus on the work itself and avoid being swayed by the artist's personal life or motivations, it is also important to consider the historical and cultural context in which the work was created and the impact it has on the reader or audience.