occasionalism
C2Formal, Academic, Technical (Philosophy/Religion)
Definition
Meaning
A philosophical theory that denies direct causation between physical events, asserting that God causes them on the occasion of apparent causes.
In contemporary metaphysics and philosophy of mind, the view that mental events do not cause physical events (and vice versa), but are coordinated by a third principle (e.g., God, nature).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a term in metaphysics, epistemology, and history of philosophy. It is a theory of causation, not merely something happening 'occasionally'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or usage differences. The concept is identical in philosophical discourse.
Connotations
Neutral, strictly academic/philosophical. May have subtle religious connotations due to its historical association with theologians.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Used almost exclusively in academic philosophy and history of ideas contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + defends/advocates/expounds + occasionalismOccasionalism + posits/claims/denies + that-clauseThe + ADJ (e.g., Cartesian, traditional) + occasionalismVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Central term in history of philosophy (17th century), metaphysics, and philosophy of mind courses. Appears in specialised journals and texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Precise term in philosophical theology and metaphysics to denote a specific theory of causation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The philosopher sought to occasionalise all causal relations.
- Malebranche occasionalised the interaction between mind and body.
American English
- Some theologians have attempted to occasionalize natural events.
- The theory occasionalizes apparent causes.
adverb
British English
- He interpreted the interaction occasionalistically.
- The events are linked only occasionalistically.
American English
- She explained causation occasionalistically.
- The system functions occasionalistically, not through efficient causes.
adjective
British English
- The occasionalist framework was influential.
- He gave an occasionalist account of perception.
American English
- Her argument followed an occasionalist model.
- This leads to an occasionalist conclusion.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Occasionalism is a difficult philosophical idea from the 17th century.
- The philosopher Nicolas Malebranche is famous for his theory of occasionalism.
- Occasionalism denies that physical objects genuinely interact, proposing instead that God produces effects on the occasion of their apparent conjunction.
- A key criticism of Cartesian dualism was the problem of mind-body interaction, for which occasionalism was one proposed solution.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an 'occasion' (an event). Occasionalism says God acts on the *occasion* of every event, making it happen, rather than things causing each other directly.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOD AS THE SOLE ENGINEER: The world is a theatre where created things are mere occasions for the one true Actor (God) to perform.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как 'случайность' или 'эпизодичность'. Это ложный друг. Правильный философский термин – 'окказионализм'.
- Не путать с 'occasional' (случайный). Это абстрактное '-ism' существительное.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'something that happens now and then' (confusion with 'occasional').
- Misspelling as 'occasionalism' (double 's').
- Using it outside a philosophical/ theological context.
Practice
Quiz
What is the central claim of occasionalism?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Historically, yes. It was developed by theologians (like Malebranche) within a theistic framework to explain causation while preserving God's continual activity. In secular philosophy, the 'third principle' coordinating events might be a law of nature.
In mere conservation, God creates things with inherent causal powers and then sustains them. In occasionalism, creatures have no inherent causal powers; God directly causes every event 'on the occasion' of the creature's state.
Nicolas Malebranche is the most famous proponent. Other figures include Arnold Geulincx, and some interpretations of al-Ghazali. Descartes' dualism created the problem that occasionalism tried to solve.
Yes, primarily in specialised areas of metaphysics, philosophy of mind (e.g., the problem of mental causation), and history of philosophy. It is a live, though not mainstream, position in debates about causation.