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Single Idea 11944

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

Full Idea

Rule occasionalists (Arnauld, Bayle) say that on their view the results of God's action are the nomic regularities of nature, and not a miracle.

Clarification

'Nomic' means following laws

Gist of Idea

Rule occasionalism says God's actions follow laws, not miracles

Source

George Molnar (Powers [1998], 6.1)

Book Ref

Molnar,George: 'Powers: a study in metaphysics', ed/tr. Mumford,Stephen [OUP 2003], p.104


A Reaction

This is clearly more plausible that Malebranche's idea that God constantly intervenes. I take it as a nice illustration of the fact that 'laws of nature' were mainly invented by us to explain how God could control his world. Away with them!


The 5 ideas with the same theme [a third force (God) co-ordinates mind and matter]:

Without God's influence every operation would stop, so God causes everything [Aquinas]
Mind and body can't influence one another, but God wouldn't intervene in the daily routine [Leibniz]
Occasionalism give a false view of natural laws, miracles, and substances [Leibniz, by Jolley]
Rule occasionalism says God's actions follow laws, not miracles [Molnar]
Occasionalism contradicts the Eucharist, which needs genuine changes of substance [Arthur,R]