General Philosophy 2.5 Nicolas Malebranche and George Berkeley
Mar 16, 2010
Delve into the intriguing philosophies of Malebranche, who emphasizes divine intervention as the true source of causation. Discover how his ideas shaped Berkeley's radical view that reality exists only through perception. The discussion contrasts Berkeley's immaterialism with Locke's materialism, revealing a universe constructed from divine perceptions rather than physical objects. It’s a fascinating exploration of how philosophical thought bridges faith and reason.
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Occasionalism and Causation
- Malbranche argues that true causation requires a necessary connection between cause and effect.
- He uses the example of billiard balls to illustrate how physical events lack this necessary connection.
God as the Only Cause
- Only God's will can be a true cause, according to Malbranche, due to God's omnipotence.
- God continuously recreates the world, like a cartoon film, making Him the cause of all events.
God and Perception
- Malbranche's occasionalism suggests that God directly causes our perceptions.
- Physical objects merely serve as occasions for God to create these perceptions in us.