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The dissemination of divination in roman republican times

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Figure 4.2. Intentional action<br />

It is important to make the dist<strong>in</strong>ction between the actual perceived action and the<br />

represented action. Let's say we see Peter eat<strong>in</strong>g an apple. It is readily <strong>in</strong>ferable that his goal<br />

is to eat, because he is hungry (desire), and that he th<strong>in</strong>ks that eat<strong>in</strong>g the apple will relieve his<br />

hunger (belief) (see fig.4.3.)<br />

Peter<br />

Intentio Goal<br />

Agent<br />

Action<br />

Belief:Eat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

apple helps<br />

Figure 4.3. Peter eats an apple<br />

Object<br />

Desire:Hunger Eat<strong>in</strong>g apple<br />

Eats<br />

An apple<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to recent theories <strong>in</strong> anthropology and the cognitive sciences, ritualized action<br />

differs from normal <strong>in</strong>tentional action. In ritualized action the immediate goal cannot readily<br />

be referred to the beliefs and desires <strong>of</strong> the agent. If a catholic is seen cross himself, there is<br />

no obvious goal (he is not try<strong>in</strong>g to swat flies or scare away bats), if you see a priest baptize a<br />

child, there isn't either any immediate goal (he is not try<strong>in</strong>g to wash the child, <strong>in</strong>deed it will<br />

probably be sparkl<strong>in</strong>g clean already) . 35 What happens <strong>in</strong> ritualized action has been described<br />

35 Indeed children down to 6-7 years clearly dist<strong>in</strong>guish bath<strong>in</strong>g from baptism (Richert 2006)<br />

Represented<br />

Perceived<br />

65<br />

Represented<br />

Perceived

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