Single Idea 7564

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / A. Mind-Body Dualism / 4. Occasionalism]

Full Idea

Leibniz's three objections to occasionalism are: it disturbs the concept of laws of nature used in physics; it introduces perpetual miracles; and it doesn't recognise activity of substances (leading to the Spinozan heresy that God is the only substance).

Gist of Idea

Occasionalism give a false view of natural laws, miracles, and substances

Source

report of Gottfried Leibniz (works [1690]) by Nicholas Jolley - Leibniz Ch.2

Book Reference

Jolley,Nicholas: 'Leibniz' [Routledge 2005], p.64


A Reaction

I wonder what would happen if, within the viewpoint of occasionalism, God suddenly packed up and abandoned his job? Presumably the world wouldn't disappear, so there would still be substances, but passive ones, in chaos.