title: Faces of Intention (Cambridge Studies in Philosophy)
author: Bratman
description: " Faces of Intention is a fine collection of essays covering Michael Bratman's work on intention and agency between 1992 and 1998, along with four critical reviews published between 1983 and 1998." Dialogue 40/2<br /><br />"Michael Bratman's new book is a very good piece of work. Clearly written, philosophically sophisticated, and admirably fair to contrary points of view, it is worthy of both attentive study and careful critique." Philosophy and Phenomenological
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  ![Cover](images/n9702.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## An oblique approach
  
  
    
  
  
  ###
  
  
  _( Belisarius - 1 )_
  
  
  
  
  
  ### David Drake
  
  
  ### Eric Flint
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## David Drake,Eric Flint
  
  
  
  
  
  ## An oblique approach
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Prologue
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The first facet was purpose.
  
  
  It was the only facet. And because it was the only facet, purpose had neither
  meaning nor content. It simply was. Was. Nothing more. purpose. Alone, and
  unknowing.
  
  
  Yet, that thing which purpose would become had not come to be haphazardly.
  purpose, that first and isolated facet, had been drawn into existence by the
  nature of the man who squatted in the cave, staring at it.
  
  
  Another man-almost any other man-would have gasped, or drawn back, or fled, or
  seized a futile weapon. Some men-some few rare men-would have tried to
  comprehend what they were seeing. But the man in the cave simply stared.
  
  
  He did not try to comprehend purpose, for he despised comprehension. But it
  can be said that he conside