| Author(s): | Czachesz, István |
| Title: | Magic and Mind: Toward a New Cognitive Theory of Magic, With Special Attention to the Canonical and Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles |
| Category: | pre-print |
| Length (pages): | 29 |
| Keywords: | magic; counter-intuitive; superstitious conditioning; variable reinforcement; Bernoulli game |
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| Abstract: | This study establishes a new cognitive scientific theory of magic and connects such theorizing with the evaluation of instances of magical practice in the canonical and apocryphal Acts of the
Apostles. In the first part of the article, I reflect on the debate concerning the terms "religion" and "magic". The second part addresses the hitherto neglected difference and interaction between magical competence and magical performance. The third part deals with explanatory mechanisms that underlie magical performance. In the fourth part, I suggest that magical manipulations arise from operant conditioning. The final part summarizes my new theory of magic. |
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| Remarks: | Updated on 16-05-2008. |
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| Email: | I.Czachesz @ rug.nl |
| Bibliography: | |
| URL: | |
| Downloadable files: | ARC-19-czachesz_magic.pdf |
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| Submitted: | 06/06/2007 21:06:05 (DD / MM / YYYY) |
| Published: | 06/06/2007 23:04:25 (DD / MM / YYYY) |