History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps

University philosophy adapting to Cartesianism and the new science. Longstanding scholastic debates on being, forms, essence, individuation, and matter without form. Tensions over heliocentrism, the Tychonic alternative, and responses to Descartes. Institutional shifts: Oratorian trials, Paris Academy experiments, and the move from unified scientia to specialized empirical science.

A lively debate over whether ideas exist in God or in the mind unfolds. Representationalism and its skeptical tensions are explored with a playful giraffe example. One theory says we 'see' divine ideas; the other insists ideas are active mental perceptions. Satire, logic, and worries about how divine ideas map to the external world spice the discussion.

Steven Nadler, a leading scholar of early modern philosophy and occasionalism, joins to explore 17th century occasionalist thought. He defines occasionalism and traces its medieval precedents. He examines Cartesian puzzles about mind–body and body–body causation, contrasts Laforge and Malebranche, and links occasionalism to debates on divine causation, freedom, and vision in God.

A deep dive into why Malebranche thought God, not created things, causes every bodily motion and thought. Contrasts occasionalism with other views on causation and explores Cartesian reasons bodies lack causal power. Covers objections like collisions, the role of God’s general volitions, and connections to medieval theology and religious motivations.

A dive into Malebranche’s occasionalism and its limits. Exploration of his Augustinian and Cartesian influences and major works. A look at his radical skepticism about bodies, souls, and other minds. Discussion of his theodicy favoring general laws and simplicity over particular perfection. Debate with Arnaud over divine reasons, miracles, and the limits of reason versus faith.

A tour of how Arnauld and Nicole rewrote logic to sharpen human judgment using Cartesian ideas. A global view of how logicians from Islamic, Indian, and Chinese traditions pursued technical problems. Critiques of scholastic logic and why syllogisms still matter when premises are true. Debate over sensation, innateness, and how language and signs map onto ideas.

A deep dive into Antoine Arnauld’s mix of Cartesian philosophy and Jansenist theology. Explores Jansenism’s Augustinian roots and clashes with Jesuit Molinism. Tracks Port-Royal’s austere practices, Pascal’s defenses, and royal suppression. Examines Arnauld’s worries about Cartesian doubt, his views on free will and grace, and his lasting influence as a logician.

Liz Jackson, associate professor of philosophy at Saint Louis University who works on philosophy of religion and decision theory, discusses contemporary approaches to Pascal's Wager. She explains the two-by-two wager matrix and how infinities affect expected value. They tackle the many gods objection, paradoxical contrived rewards, distinctions between belief and faith, and hybrid pragmatic-evidential responses.

Can faith be a gamble? The discussion dives into Pascal’s Wager, exploring the fascinating idea of betting on belief in God for infinite rewards. A parody of the wager introduces a mischievous deity that flips the stakes. The podcast examines decision theory and the perplexing many-gods problem, alongside the concept of pragmatic religion choice. Concerns about mercenary beliefs surface, while the practicality of fostering faith through acts like attending mass emerges as a compelling argument.

Explore the fascinating duality of Blaise Pascal as a leading scientist and devout thinker. Discover his life-changing mystical experience in 1654 that shifted his focus from science to religion. Dive into his groundbreaking experiments on vacuums and fluid pressure, as well as his keen skepticism about pure reason. Unpack his poignant views on human existence, boredom, and the search for meaning. Finally, get a taste of his famous Wager, a compelling argument inviting belief in God for infinite rewards.