History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps

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.

Discover the revival of ancient atomism in the 17th century and its pivotal role in modern science. Explore how thinkers like Sébastian Basso and Pierre Gassendi challenged Aristotle's elemental theories. Basso’s indivisible atoms contrasted sharply with Descartes' divisible particles. Gassendi blended Epicurean philosophy with atomism, defending concepts like void and divine guidance. The podcast also delves into the theological implications of atomism and its reconciliation with Christian doctrine. Ready for a philosophical journey?

Explore Pierre Gassendi's journey from skepticism to a unique form of Epicureanism. Discover his humanist roots and challenges he faced in academia. Delve into his defense of Epicurus and critiques of Cartesian thought. Learn about his innovative atomism and the role of sensory experience in knowledge. Uncover Gassendi's views on happiness and virtue within a Christian framework. Finally, find out how his ideas influenced British empiricism and shaped philosophical debates!

Explore the intriguing resurgence of ancient skepticism in 17th-century France, spotlighting libertines like Mothe le Vayer. Delve into their challenge against superstition and their questioning of sensory reliability. The discussion brings to light debates on whether these skeptics were anti-religious and how skepticism might actually foster faith. Learn about the critique from figures like Mersenne, who defended certainty in science, while Gassendi emerges, blending skepticism with empirical views. A fascinating dive into the interplay of belief and doubt!