Occasionalism

Occasionalism denies causation not only among finite substances, and so rules out any inflow between cause and effect, but also within finite substances.

Leibniz on Causation Bobro, Marc 2009

Occasionalism puts forward a view where God must act for any substance that does not have the causal power themselves to act.

Leibniz on Causation Bobro, Marc 2009

It is sometimes said that Vision in God is the ˜epistemological correlate™ of Malebranche's Occasionalism, according to which God is the only true cause

Malebranche's Theory of Ideas and Vision in God Nolan, Lawrence 2008

Where Occasionalism stresses our dependence on God's power, Vision in God underscores our dependence on his wisdom.

Malebranche's Theory of Ideas and Vision in God Nolan, Lawrence 2008

Indeed, one can regard Vision in God as a corollary to Occasionalism.

Malebranche's Theory of Ideas and Vision in God Nolan, Lawrence 2008

With the advent of this theory, it becomes easier to see the relation between Vision in God and Malebranche's other main doctrine of Occasionalism, or the view that God is the only genuine cause.

Malebranche's Theory of Ideas and Vision in God Nolan, Lawrence 2008

˜Occasionalism™ or the view that God is the only genuine cause, Vision in God is also rooted in Malebranche's conviction that we utterly depend on God in every way.

Malebranche's Theory of Ideas and Vision in God Nolan, Lawrence 2008

Occasionalism is an ethical antidote, or at least an ethical treatment, for our tendency to idolatry, and, in particular, for an especially pernicious instance of this idolatry:

la philosophie du serpent 2005

* William Vallicella at "Maverick Philosopher" summarizes an argument that Romanticism is subjectified occasionalism in About Schmitt: Romanticism as a Form of Occasionalism.

Things of Interest 2005

Occasionalism is the position that there is only one true cause God and all other 'causes' are really just occasions for the action of the true cause.

Archive 2005-11-01 2005