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#719 Dimitris Xygalatas - Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living

The Dissenter

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The Role of Causal Opacity in Rituals

In rituals is causal opacity a bug or a feature? In my book, I described it as a feature. We know that our perceptual system makes a distinction between utilitarian actions and other kinds of actions. When we perceive a non-functional action with a ritualized aspect, people tend to see it as more special. They're a good way of identifying in-group members and outsiders.

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