Many words function through their extensional definitions—or the specific examples and instances that give them meaning. For example, consider when someone suggests that the solution to a problem is more ‘agency.’ But unfortunately, they may not elaborate further.
This can become a quasi "semantic stopping point," where someone uses, repeats, or hears a word without taking time to examine what it functionally means.
‘Just maximize agency,’ someone might say in the face of a problem. But we cannot formalize a coherent model or actionable plan from merely hearing the word ‘agency’ and holding a fuzzy, informal concept in mind. Sure, the word may evoke intensional definitions, e.g., related words like ‘autonomy,’ ‘responsibility,’ or ‘power’—but are these associations alone enough?
What does maximizing agency actually look like in practice? Does it mean giving more freedom? Increasing decision-making capacity? Creating more opportunities for action?
To attempt to answer such questions, we need extensional definitions—specific ideas, examples, and concepts that the term ‘agency’ points to.[1] In this sense, then, any given word may serve as a header for a broader class of related concepts. It is a class reference.
At first pass, agency appears to encompass a deeper form of intelligence involving philosophy, language, and various cognitive tools.
And that involves concrete physical resources, like energy and resources. But it also involves abstract concepts like strategy, discipline, psychological drives, and uncertainty tolerance—a particularly the willingness to engage with challenging ideas without flinching away.
These extensional definitions—the examples, instances, and related concepts—help us understand not just what something means, but how it operates in practice and relates to other ideas.
Agency, then, is much more than just responsibility or autonomy. The term is load-bearing and involves many other concepts, such as:
- Self-regulation: The ability to control impulses and follow through on plans
- Responsibility: Situational awareness and acceptance of consequences
- Strategic thinking: the alignment of short-term and long-term goals
- Uncertainty tolerance: The capacity to make decisions despite incomplete knowledge
As a general but not absolute rule, behind any intensional definition, there are extensional definitions that make the intensional definition work by giving it practical meaning and power.
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