One True Cause: Causal Powers, Divine Concurrence, and the Seventeenth-Century Revival of Occasionalism

Occasionalism is the thesis that God alone is the true cause of everything that happens in the world, and created substances are merely occasional causes. It was developed in medieval Islamic theology and was revived in the 1660s by followers of René Descartes. This book provides the first comprehensive account of seventeenth century occasionalism, contrasting it with Thomas Aquinas' theory of divine providence and reconstructing the arguments of Cartesians who used Cartesian physics to argue for it.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 408 pages
\n Publication date: 30 September 2020
\n Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
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Occasionalism is a profound thesis that asserts that God alone is the ultimate and sole cause behind all occurrences in the world. It posits that the created substances are merely incidental causes, playing a temporary role in the grand scheme of things. This doctrine originated in medieval Islamic theology and faced significant opposition from Christian authors during the medieval period in Europe. However, it experienced a revival in the 1660s, particularly among followers of the philosophy of René Descartes. Among the most prominent advocates of occasionalism were the French philosopher Nicolas Malebranche, who popularized this doctrine.

The adoption of occasionalism by Cartesian thinkers can be traced back to several factors. One of the key reasons was their belief in the power of reason and the importance of scientific inquiry. Cartesian thinkers, such as René Descartes and his followers, were deeply committed to the idea that the natural world can be understood through empirical observation and logical reasoning. They believed that God, as the ultimate creator, had established a set of laws that govern the universe, and that these laws were impersonal and deterministic.

Another factor that influenced the adoption of occasionalism was the influence of Cartesian physics. Descartes, in particular, developed a mechanistic worldview that saw the universe as a complex system of particles in motion. He believed that the actions of created beings were ultimately determined by the laws of physics, and that God played no active role in the natural world. This view of the universe was in stark contrast to the traditional Christian belief in divine providence, which held that God actively intervened in human affairs and guided the course of history.

Despite its heterodoxy, occasionalism gained popularity among certain Cartesian thinkers in the 1660s. One of the most notable proponents of occasionalism was the French philosopher Nicolas Malebranche. Malebranche was a student of Descartes and developed his own philosophical system that combined Cartesian metaphysics with Christian theology. He argued that God created the universe with a set of laws that govern its operation, but that these laws are impersonal and deterministic. He further argued that the actions of created beings are ultimately determined by these laws, and that God does not intervene in the natural world.

Malebranche's case for occasionalism was deeply influential in the development of modern philosophy. His work challenged traditional religious beliefs and paved the way for the emergence of secularism and atheism. However, his philosophy also faced criticism from some quarters, who argued that it was too mechanistic and reductionist and that it failed to account for the moral and ethical dimensions of human life.

In recent years, there has been a growing body of literature on Malebranche and the movement he engendered. This literature has explored various aspects of his philosophy, including his views on the nature of God, the relationship between mind and body, and the role of reason in understanding the world. There has also been a growing body of work on the Cartesian occasionalists before Malebranche, including Arnold Geulincx, Geraud de Cordemoy, and Louis de la Forge.

To date, there has not been a systematic, book-length study of the reasoning that led Cartesian thinkers to adopt occasionalism, and the relationship of their arguments to Descartes' own views. This book aims to fill this gap by providing the first comprehensive account of seventeenth-century occasionalism.

In Part I of the book, we contrast occasionalism with a theory of divine providence developed by Thomas Aquinas in response to medieval occasionalists. We show that Descartes' philosophy is compatible with Aquinas' theory, on which God concurs in all the actions of created beings. We explore the arguments of Cartesians such as Cordemoy and La Forge who used Cartesian physics to argue for occasionalism and reconstruct their arguments.

In Part II of the book, we show how Malebranche's case for occasionalism combines philosophical theology with Cartesian metaphysics and mechanistic science. We explore his views on the nature of God, the relationship between mind and body, and the role of reason in understanding the world. We also examine his arguments for occasionalism and how they relate to Descartes' own views.

In conclusion, this book provides a comprehensive account of seventeenth-century occasionalism and its development. It explores the reasons behind the adoption of this doctrine by Cartesian thinkers and its influence on the development of modern philosophy. It also provides a critical analysis of Malebranche's case for occasionalism and its relationship to Descartes' own views. This book is an essential resource for anyone interested in the history of philosophy, the philosophy of religion, and the relationship between science and religion.

\n Weight: 696g\n
Dimension: 165 x 242 x 37 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780190941796\n \n