Lesson 3 | Support by Distinct Statement
Proving Intent
The difference between Action-Result and Action-Purpose lies in the question of intention. Was the outcome a purpose intended by the actor? Or was it a result, not particularly sought by the one doing the action?
At times this distinction is quite clear. For example, if the actor is non-personal or the result undesirable to the actor, then clearly there was no purpose involved. On the other hand, if an outcome was intended but not accomplished, then certainly it should not be marked to be a result.
At other times, the line between these two can be thin, as when God is the actor. (Could we not say that God has a purpose in every action?) In this case, ask the question of whether purpose is being emphasized. Or, while it may be true that the actor wanted the outcome, the emphasis may be on the actuality of the result more than on the fact that this result was the intention of the actor.
