https://www.historyofphilosophy.net/ en Sun, 05 Apr 26 04:00:00 +0200 no https://www.historyofphilosophy.net/occasionalism-nadler <span>490. Steven Nadler on Occasionalism</span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/podcast_image/490%20Nadler.jpg" width="600" height="600" alt="Guest photo" /> </div> <span><span>Peter Adamson</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-05T04:00:00+02:00" title="Sunday, April 5, 2026 - 04:00">5 April 2026</time> </span> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <audio id="audio-player-1" preload="none" style="max-width: 100%;"> <source src="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio element. </audio> </div> <a href="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3"><img id="download" title="download mp3 file" alt="download-icon" src="/sites/default/files/images/download-icon.png"></a> <script> (function (Drupal, once) { Drupal.behaviors.mediaElementAudioPlayer = { attach: function (context, settings) { once('mediaelement-audio-player', 'audio', context).forEach(function (element) { const playerId = element.id; if (playerId) { new MediaElementPlayer(playerId, { iconSprite: '/images/mejs-controls.svg', // Adjust path as needed }); } }); } }; })(Drupal, once); </script> <div> <div>Podcast series</div> <div><a href="/series/early-modern-philosophy/france-and-netherlands" hreflang="en">France and the Netherlands</a></div> </div> <section> <article > <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1775487675"></mark> <div data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-18159" class="my-commenty"> <div class="postedby"><span>TB</span> on 6 April 2026</div> <p> <strong>occasionalism</strong> </p> <div><p>This is the philosophical concept that has the most appeal to me while inspiring the largest amount of bewildered-to-offended scoffing from everyone I try to explain it to.  I think of it like a video game: if a billiard ball hits another in a video game, it seems to us to cause the other ball to move, but of course there are no balls, and the reaction of the pixels on the screen is not created by balls colliding but by the computer itself changing the display.  To me it feels pretty intuitive but I find that most people find it outrageous!</p> <p>It is interesting to hear from Professor Nadler about "thoroughgoing" occasionalism taking away the ability to think and so on, which I can't say does appeal to me, but in terms of physical bodies it makes a lot of sense to me and I do personally like the idea that every single thing that ever happens is a miracle.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=18159&1=default&2=en&3=" token="s5oC2gE0SFXsTkAl2DPPPlRPNboR7kPhMxA94e0k7Js"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> </article> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&1=1685&2=comment_node_podcast_episode&3=comment_node_podcast_episode" token="8stPWQaRdJRZCjouKbgbkbStU72vccIoHJGBsGrDVUE"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <div>Further Reading</div> <div><p><a href="https://smnadler.wixsite.com/mysite/books">Prof Nadler's books</a> on occasionalism and other topics in early modern philosophy.</p></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/themes/atomism" hreflang="en">Atomism</a></div> <div><a href="/causality" hreflang="en">Causality</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/gods" hreflang="en">God(s)</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/interviews" hreflang="en">Interviews</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/mind" hreflang="en">Mind</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a></div> </div> <div><p>What inspired the occasionalist theory embraced by the 17th century Cartesians? We find out from a leading specialist on the topic.</p></div> <ul class="links inline"><li><a href="/occasionalism-nadler#comment-form" title="Share your thoughts and opinions." hreflang="en">Add new comment</a></li></ul> Sun, 05 Apr 2026 02:00:00 +0000 Peter Adamson 1685 at https://www.historyofphilosophy.net https://www.historyofphilosophy.net/warring-states-philosophy-van-norden <span>490. Steven Nadler on Occasionalism</span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/podcast_image/490%20Nadler.jpg" width="600" height="600" alt="Guest photo" /> </div> <span><span>Peter Adamson</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-05T04:00:00+02:00" title="Sunday, April 5, 2026 - 04:00">5 April 2026</time> </span> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <audio id="audio-player-1" preload="none" style="max-width: 100%;"> <source src="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio element. </audio> </div> <a href="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3"><img id="download" title="download mp3 file" alt="download-icon" src="/sites/default/files/images/download-icon.png"></a> <script> (function (Drupal, once) { Drupal.behaviors.mediaElementAudioPlayer = { attach: function (context, settings) { once('mediaelement-audio-player', 'audio', context).forEach(function (element) { const playerId = element.id; if (playerId) { new MediaElementPlayer(playerId, { iconSprite: '/images/mejs-controls.svg', // Adjust path as needed }); } }); } }; })(Drupal, once); </script> <div> <div>Podcast series</div> <div><a href="/series/early-modern-philosophy/france-and-netherlands" hreflang="en">France and the Netherlands</a></div> </div> <section> <article > <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1775487675"></mark> <div data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-18159" class="my-commenty"> <div class="postedby"><span>TB</span> on 6 April 2026</div> <p> <strong>occasionalism</strong> </p> <div><p>This is the philosophical concept that has the most appeal to me while inspiring the largest amount of bewildered-to-offended scoffing from everyone I try to explain it to.  I think of it like a video game: if a billiard ball hits another in a video game, it seems to us to cause the other ball to move, but of course there are no balls, and the reaction of the pixels on the screen is not created by balls colliding but by the computer itself changing the display.  To me it feels pretty intuitive but I find that most people find it outrageous!</p> <p>It is interesting to hear from Professor Nadler about "thoroughgoing" occasionalism taking away the ability to think and so on, which I can't say does appeal to me, but in terms of physical bodies it makes a lot of sense to me and I do personally like the idea that every single thing that ever happens is a miracle.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=18159&1=default&2=en&3=" token="s5oC2gE0SFXsTkAl2DPPPlRPNboR7kPhMxA94e0k7Js"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> </article> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&1=1685&2=comment_node_podcast_episode&3=comment_node_podcast_episode" token="8stPWQaRdJRZCjouKbgbkbStU72vccIoHJGBsGrDVUE"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <div>Further Reading</div> <div><p><a href="https://smnadler.wixsite.com/mysite/books">Prof Nadler's books</a> on occasionalism and other topics in early modern philosophy.</p></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/themes/atomism" hreflang="en">Atomism</a></div> <div><a href="/causality" hreflang="en">Causality</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/gods" hreflang="en">God(s)</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/interviews" hreflang="en">Interviews</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/mind" hreflang="en">Mind</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a></div> </div> <div><p>What inspired the occasionalist theory embraced by the 17th century Cartesians? We find out from a leading specialist on the topic.</p></div> <ul class="links inline"><li><a href="/occasionalism-nadler#comment-form" title="Share your thoughts and opinions." hreflang="en">Add new comment</a></li></ul> Sun, 29 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0000 Peter Adamson 1682 at https://www.historyofphilosophy.net https://www.historyofphilosophy.net/malebranche-occasionalism <span>490. Steven Nadler on Occasionalism</span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/podcast_image/490%20Nadler.jpg" width="600" height="600" alt="Guest photo" /> </div> <span><span>Peter Adamson</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-05T04:00:00+02:00" title="Sunday, April 5, 2026 - 04:00">5 April 2026</time> </span> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <audio id="audio-player-1" preload="none" style="max-width: 100%;"> <source src="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio element. </audio> </div> <a href="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3"><img id="download" title="download mp3 file" alt="download-icon" src="/sites/default/files/images/download-icon.png"></a> <script> (function (Drupal, once) { Drupal.behaviors.mediaElementAudioPlayer = { attach: function (context, settings) { once('mediaelement-audio-player', 'audio', context).forEach(function (element) { const playerId = element.id; if (playerId) { new MediaElementPlayer(playerId, { iconSprite: '/images/mejs-controls.svg', // Adjust path as needed }); } }); } }; })(Drupal, once); </script> <div> <div>Podcast series</div> <div><a href="/series/early-modern-philosophy/france-and-netherlands" hreflang="en">France and the Netherlands</a></div> </div> <section> <article > <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1775487675"></mark> <div data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-18159" class="my-commenty"> <div class="postedby"><span>TB</span> on 6 April 2026</div> <p> <strong>occasionalism</strong> </p> <div><p>This is the philosophical concept that has the most appeal to me while inspiring the largest amount of bewildered-to-offended scoffing from everyone I try to explain it to.  I think of it like a video game: if a billiard ball hits another in a video game, it seems to us to cause the other ball to move, but of course there are no balls, and the reaction of the pixels on the screen is not created by balls colliding but by the computer itself changing the display.  To me it feels pretty intuitive but I find that most people find it outrageous!</p> <p>It is interesting to hear from Professor Nadler about "thoroughgoing" occasionalism taking away the ability to think and so on, which I can't say does appeal to me, but in terms of physical bodies it makes a lot of sense to me and I do personally like the idea that every single thing that ever happens is a miracle.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=18159&1=default&2=en&3=" token="s5oC2gE0SFXsTkAl2DPPPlRPNboR7kPhMxA94e0k7Js"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> </article> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&1=1685&2=comment_node_podcast_episode&3=comment_node_podcast_episode" token="8stPWQaRdJRZCjouKbgbkbStU72vccIoHJGBsGrDVUE"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <div>Further Reading</div> <div><p><a href="https://smnadler.wixsite.com/mysite/books">Prof Nadler's books</a> on occasionalism and other topics in early modern philosophy.</p></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/themes/atomism" hreflang="en">Atomism</a></div> <div><a href="/causality" hreflang="en">Causality</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/gods" hreflang="en">God(s)</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/interviews" hreflang="en">Interviews</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/mind" hreflang="en">Mind</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a></div> </div> <div><p>What inspired the occasionalist theory embraced by the 17th century Cartesians? We find out from a leading specialist on the topic.</p></div> <ul class="links inline"><li><a href="/occasionalism-nadler#comment-form" title="Share your thoughts and opinions." hreflang="en">Add new comment</a></li></ul> Sun, 22 Mar 2026 03:00:00 +0000 Peter Adamson 1676 at https://www.historyofphilosophy.net https://www.historyofphilosophy.net/zhuangzi-moeller <span>490. Steven Nadler on Occasionalism</span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/podcast_image/490%20Nadler.jpg" width="600" height="600" alt="Guest photo" /> </div> <span><span>Peter Adamson</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-05T04:00:00+02:00" title="Sunday, April 5, 2026 - 04:00">5 April 2026</time> </span> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <audio id="audio-player-1" preload="none" style="max-width: 100%;"> <source src="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio element. </audio> </div> <a href="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3"><img id="download" title="download mp3 file" alt="download-icon" src="/sites/default/files/images/download-icon.png"></a> <script> (function (Drupal, once) { Drupal.behaviors.mediaElementAudioPlayer = { attach: function (context, settings) { once('mediaelement-audio-player', 'audio', context).forEach(function (element) { const playerId = element.id; if (playerId) { new MediaElementPlayer(playerId, { iconSprite: '/images/mejs-controls.svg', // Adjust path as needed }); } }); } }; })(Drupal, once); </script> <div> <div>Podcast series</div> <div><a href="/series/early-modern-philosophy/france-and-netherlands" hreflang="en">France and the Netherlands</a></div> </div> <section> <article > <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1775487675"></mark> <div data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-18159" class="my-commenty"> <div class="postedby"><span>TB</span> on 6 April 2026</div> <p> <strong>occasionalism</strong> </p> <div><p>This is the philosophical concept that has the most appeal to me while inspiring the largest amount of bewildered-to-offended scoffing from everyone I try to explain it to.  I think of it like a video game: if a billiard ball hits another in a video game, it seems to us to cause the other ball to move, but of course there are no balls, and the reaction of the pixels on the screen is not created by balls colliding but by the computer itself changing the display.  To me it feels pretty intuitive but I find that most people find it outrageous!</p> <p>It is interesting to hear from Professor Nadler about "thoroughgoing" occasionalism taking away the ability to think and so on, which I can't say does appeal to me, but in terms of physical bodies it makes a lot of sense to me and I do personally like the idea that every single thing that ever happens is a miracle.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=18159&1=default&2=en&3=" token="s5oC2gE0SFXsTkAl2DPPPlRPNboR7kPhMxA94e0k7Js"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> </article> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&1=1685&2=comment_node_podcast_episode&3=comment_node_podcast_episode" token="8stPWQaRdJRZCjouKbgbkbStU72vccIoHJGBsGrDVUE"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <div>Further Reading</div> <div><p><a href="https://smnadler.wixsite.com/mysite/books">Prof Nadler's books</a> on occasionalism and other topics in early modern philosophy.</p></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/themes/atomism" hreflang="en">Atomism</a></div> <div><a href="/causality" hreflang="en">Causality</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/gods" hreflang="en">God(s)</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/interviews" hreflang="en">Interviews</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/mind" hreflang="en">Mind</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a></div> </div> <div><p>What inspired the occasionalist theory embraced by the 17th century Cartesians? We find out from a leading specialist on the topic.</p></div> <ul class="links inline"><li><a href="/occasionalism-nadler#comment-form" title="Share your thoughts and opinions." hreflang="en">Add new comment</a></li></ul> Sun, 15 Mar 2026 03:00:00 +0000 Peter Adamson 1680 at https://www.historyofphilosophy.net https://www.historyofphilosophy.net/malebranche <span>490. Steven Nadler on Occasionalism</span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/podcast_image/490%20Nadler.jpg" width="600" height="600" alt="Guest photo" /> </div> <span><span>Peter Adamson</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-05T04:00:00+02:00" title="Sunday, April 5, 2026 - 04:00">5 April 2026</time> </span> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <audio id="audio-player-1" preload="none" style="max-width: 100%;"> <source src="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio element. </audio> </div> <a href="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3"><img id="download" title="download mp3 file" alt="download-icon" src="/sites/default/files/images/download-icon.png"></a> <script> (function (Drupal, once) { Drupal.behaviors.mediaElementAudioPlayer = { attach: function (context, settings) { once('mediaelement-audio-player', 'audio', context).forEach(function (element) { const playerId = element.id; if (playerId) { new MediaElementPlayer(playerId, { iconSprite: '/images/mejs-controls.svg', // Adjust path as needed }); } }); } }; })(Drupal, once); </script> <div> <div>Podcast series</div> <div><a href="/series/early-modern-philosophy/france-and-netherlands" hreflang="en">France and the Netherlands</a></div> </div> <section> <article > <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1775487675"></mark> <div data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-18159" class="my-commenty"> <div class="postedby"><span>TB</span> on 6 April 2026</div> <p> <strong>occasionalism</strong> </p> <div><p>This is the philosophical concept that has the most appeal to me while inspiring the largest amount of bewildered-to-offended scoffing from everyone I try to explain it to.  I think of it like a video game: if a billiard ball hits another in a video game, it seems to us to cause the other ball to move, but of course there are no balls, and the reaction of the pixels on the screen is not created by balls colliding but by the computer itself changing the display.  To me it feels pretty intuitive but I find that most people find it outrageous!</p> <p>It is interesting to hear from Professor Nadler about "thoroughgoing" occasionalism taking away the ability to think and so on, which I can't say does appeal to me, but in terms of physical bodies it makes a lot of sense to me and I do personally like the idea that every single thing that ever happens is a miracle.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=18159&1=default&2=en&3=" token="s5oC2gE0SFXsTkAl2DPPPlRPNboR7kPhMxA94e0k7Js"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> </article> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&1=1685&2=comment_node_podcast_episode&3=comment_node_podcast_episode" token="8stPWQaRdJRZCjouKbgbkbStU72vccIoHJGBsGrDVUE"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <div>Further Reading</div> <div><p><a href="https://smnadler.wixsite.com/mysite/books">Prof Nadler's books</a> on occasionalism and other topics in early modern philosophy.</p></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/themes/atomism" hreflang="en">Atomism</a></div> <div><a href="/causality" hreflang="en">Causality</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/gods" hreflang="en">God(s)</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/interviews" hreflang="en">Interviews</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/mind" hreflang="en">Mind</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a></div> </div> <div><p>What inspired the occasionalist theory embraced by the 17th century Cartesians? We find out from a leading specialist on the topic.</p></div> <ul class="links inline"><li><a href="/occasionalism-nadler#comment-form" title="Share your thoughts and opinions." hreflang="en">Add new comment</a></li></ul> Sun, 08 Mar 2026 03:00:00 +0000 Peter Adamson 1675 at https://www.historyofphilosophy.net https://www.historyofphilosophy.net/zhuangzi-wandering <span>490. Steven Nadler on Occasionalism</span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/podcast_image/490%20Nadler.jpg" width="600" height="600" alt="Guest photo" /> </div> <span><span>Peter Adamson</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-05T04:00:00+02:00" title="Sunday, April 5, 2026 - 04:00">5 April 2026</time> </span> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <audio id="audio-player-1" preload="none" style="max-width: 100%;"> <source src="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio element. </audio> </div> <a href="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3"><img id="download" title="download mp3 file" alt="download-icon" src="/sites/default/files/images/download-icon.png"></a> <script> (function (Drupal, once) { Drupal.behaviors.mediaElementAudioPlayer = { attach: function (context, settings) { once('mediaelement-audio-player', 'audio', context).forEach(function (element) { const playerId = element.id; if (playerId) { new MediaElementPlayer(playerId, { iconSprite: '/images/mejs-controls.svg', // Adjust path as needed }); } }); } }; })(Drupal, once); </script> <div> <div>Podcast series</div> <div><a href="/series/early-modern-philosophy/france-and-netherlands" hreflang="en">France and the Netherlands</a></div> </div> <section> <article > <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1775487675"></mark> <div data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-18159" class="my-commenty"> <div class="postedby"><span>TB</span> on 6 April 2026</div> <p> <strong>occasionalism</strong> </p> <div><p>This is the philosophical concept that has the most appeal to me while inspiring the largest amount of bewildered-to-offended scoffing from everyone I try to explain it to.  I think of it like a video game: if a billiard ball hits another in a video game, it seems to us to cause the other ball to move, but of course there are no balls, and the reaction of the pixels on the screen is not created by balls colliding but by the computer itself changing the display.  To me it feels pretty intuitive but I find that most people find it outrageous!</p> <p>It is interesting to hear from Professor Nadler about "thoroughgoing" occasionalism taking away the ability to think and so on, which I can't say does appeal to me, but in terms of physical bodies it makes a lot of sense to me and I do personally like the idea that every single thing that ever happens is a miracle.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=18159&1=default&2=en&3=" token="s5oC2gE0SFXsTkAl2DPPPlRPNboR7kPhMxA94e0k7Js"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> </article> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&1=1685&2=comment_node_podcast_episode&3=comment_node_podcast_episode" token="8stPWQaRdJRZCjouKbgbkbStU72vccIoHJGBsGrDVUE"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <div>Further Reading</div> <div><p><a href="https://smnadler.wixsite.com/mysite/books">Prof Nadler's books</a> on occasionalism and other topics in early modern philosophy.</p></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/themes/atomism" hreflang="en">Atomism</a></div> <div><a href="/causality" hreflang="en">Causality</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/gods" hreflang="en">God(s)</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/interviews" hreflang="en">Interviews</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/mind" hreflang="en">Mind</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a></div> </div> <div><p>What inspired the occasionalist theory embraced by the 17th century Cartesians? We find out from a leading specialist on the topic.</p></div> <ul class="links inline"><li><a href="/occasionalism-nadler#comment-form" title="Share your thoughts and opinions." hreflang="en">Add new comment</a></li></ul> Sun, 01 Mar 2026 03:00:00 +0000 Peter Adamson 1677 at https://www.historyofphilosophy.net https://www.historyofphilosophy.net/port-royal-logic <span>490. Steven Nadler on Occasionalism</span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/podcast_image/490%20Nadler.jpg" width="600" height="600" alt="Guest photo" /> </div> <span><span>Peter Adamson</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-05T04:00:00+02:00" title="Sunday, April 5, 2026 - 04:00">5 April 2026</time> </span> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <audio id="audio-player-1" preload="none" style="max-width: 100%;"> <source src="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio element. </audio> </div> <a href="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3"><img id="download" title="download mp3 file" alt="download-icon" src="/sites/default/files/images/download-icon.png"></a> <script> (function (Drupal, once) { Drupal.behaviors.mediaElementAudioPlayer = { attach: function (context, settings) { once('mediaelement-audio-player', 'audio', context).forEach(function (element) { const playerId = element.id; if (playerId) { new MediaElementPlayer(playerId, { iconSprite: '/images/mejs-controls.svg', // Adjust path as needed }); } }); } }; })(Drupal, once); </script> <div> <div>Podcast series</div> <div><a href="/series/early-modern-philosophy/france-and-netherlands" hreflang="en">France and the Netherlands</a></div> </div> <section> <article > <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1775487675"></mark> <div data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-18159" class="my-commenty"> <div class="postedby"><span>TB</span> on 6 April 2026</div> <p> <strong>occasionalism</strong> </p> <div><p>This is the philosophical concept that has the most appeal to me while inspiring the largest amount of bewildered-to-offended scoffing from everyone I try to explain it to.  I think of it like a video game: if a billiard ball hits another in a video game, it seems to us to cause the other ball to move, but of course there are no balls, and the reaction of the pixels on the screen is not created by balls colliding but by the computer itself changing the display.  To me it feels pretty intuitive but I find that most people find it outrageous!</p> <p>It is interesting to hear from Professor Nadler about "thoroughgoing" occasionalism taking away the ability to think and so on, which I can't say does appeal to me, but in terms of physical bodies it makes a lot of sense to me and I do personally like the idea that every single thing that ever happens is a miracle.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=18159&1=default&2=en&3=" token="s5oC2gE0SFXsTkAl2DPPPlRPNboR7kPhMxA94e0k7Js"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> </article> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&1=1685&2=comment_node_podcast_episode&3=comment_node_podcast_episode" token="8stPWQaRdJRZCjouKbgbkbStU72vccIoHJGBsGrDVUE"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <div>Further Reading</div> <div><p><a href="https://smnadler.wixsite.com/mysite/books">Prof Nadler's books</a> on occasionalism and other topics in early modern philosophy.</p></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/themes/atomism" hreflang="en">Atomism</a></div> <div><a href="/causality" hreflang="en">Causality</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/gods" hreflang="en">God(s)</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/interviews" hreflang="en">Interviews</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/mind" hreflang="en">Mind</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a></div> </div> <div><p>What inspired the occasionalist theory embraced by the 17th century Cartesians? We find out from a leading specialist on the topic.</p></div> <ul class="links inline"><li><a href="/occasionalism-nadler#comment-form" title="Share your thoughts and opinions." hreflang="en">Add new comment</a></li></ul> Sun, 22 Feb 2026 09:27:27 +0000 Peter Adamson 1678 at https://www.historyofphilosophy.net https://www.historyofphilosophy.net/zhuangzi-death <span>490. Steven Nadler on Occasionalism</span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/podcast_image/490%20Nadler.jpg" width="600" height="600" alt="Guest photo" /> </div> <span><span>Peter Adamson</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-05T04:00:00+02:00" title="Sunday, April 5, 2026 - 04:00">5 April 2026</time> </span> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <audio id="audio-player-1" preload="none" style="max-width: 100%;"> <source src="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio element. </audio> </div> <a href="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3"><img id="download" title="download mp3 file" alt="download-icon" src="/sites/default/files/images/download-icon.png"></a> <script> (function (Drupal, once) { Drupal.behaviors.mediaElementAudioPlayer = { attach: function (context, settings) { once('mediaelement-audio-player', 'audio', context).forEach(function (element) { const playerId = element.id; if (playerId) { new MediaElementPlayer(playerId, { iconSprite: '/images/mejs-controls.svg', // Adjust path as needed }); } }); } }; })(Drupal, once); </script> <div> <div>Podcast series</div> <div><a href="/series/early-modern-philosophy/france-and-netherlands" hreflang="en">France and the Netherlands</a></div> </div> <section> <article > <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1775487675"></mark> <div data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-18159" class="my-commenty"> <div class="postedby"><span>TB</span> on 6 April 2026</div> <p> <strong>occasionalism</strong> </p> <div><p>This is the philosophical concept that has the most appeal to me while inspiring the largest amount of bewildered-to-offended scoffing from everyone I try to explain it to.  I think of it like a video game: if a billiard ball hits another in a video game, it seems to us to cause the other ball to move, but of course there are no balls, and the reaction of the pixels on the screen is not created by balls colliding but by the computer itself changing the display.  To me it feels pretty intuitive but I find that most people find it outrageous!</p> <p>It is interesting to hear from Professor Nadler about "thoroughgoing" occasionalism taking away the ability to think and so on, which I can't say does appeal to me, but in terms of physical bodies it makes a lot of sense to me and I do personally like the idea that every single thing that ever happens is a miracle.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=18159&1=default&2=en&3=" token="s5oC2gE0SFXsTkAl2DPPPlRPNboR7kPhMxA94e0k7Js"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> </article> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&1=1685&2=comment_node_podcast_episode&3=comment_node_podcast_episode" token="8stPWQaRdJRZCjouKbgbkbStU72vccIoHJGBsGrDVUE"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <div>Further Reading</div> <div><p><a href="https://smnadler.wixsite.com/mysite/books">Prof Nadler's books</a> on occasionalism and other topics in early modern philosophy.</p></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/themes/atomism" hreflang="en">Atomism</a></div> <div><a href="/causality" hreflang="en">Causality</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/gods" hreflang="en">God(s)</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/interviews" hreflang="en">Interviews</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/mind" hreflang="en">Mind</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a></div> </div> <div><p>What inspired the occasionalist theory embraced by the 17th century Cartesians? We find out from a leading specialist on the topic.</p></div> <ul class="links inline"><li><a href="/occasionalism-nadler#comment-form" title="Share your thoughts and opinions." hreflang="en">Add new comment</a></li></ul> Sun, 15 Feb 2026 03:00:00 +0000 Peter Adamson 1669 at https://www.historyofphilosophy.net https://www.historyofphilosophy.net/arnauld-jansenism <span>490. Steven Nadler on Occasionalism</span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/podcast_image/490%20Nadler.jpg" width="600" height="600" alt="Guest photo" /> </div> <span><span>Peter Adamson</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-05T04:00:00+02:00" title="Sunday, April 5, 2026 - 04:00">5 April 2026</time> </span> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <audio id="audio-player-1" preload="none" style="max-width: 100%;"> <source src="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio element. </audio> </div> <a href="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3"><img id="download" title="download mp3 file" alt="download-icon" src="/sites/default/files/images/download-icon.png"></a> <script> (function (Drupal, once) { Drupal.behaviors.mediaElementAudioPlayer = { attach: function (context, settings) { once('mediaelement-audio-player', 'audio', context).forEach(function (element) { const playerId = element.id; if (playerId) { new MediaElementPlayer(playerId, { iconSprite: '/images/mejs-controls.svg', // Adjust path as needed }); } }); } }; })(Drupal, once); </script> <div> <div>Podcast series</div> <div><a href="/series/early-modern-philosophy/france-and-netherlands" hreflang="en">France and the Netherlands</a></div> </div> <section> <article > <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1775487675"></mark> <div data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-18159" class="my-commenty"> <div class="postedby"><span>TB</span> on 6 April 2026</div> <p> <strong>occasionalism</strong> </p> <div><p>This is the philosophical concept that has the most appeal to me while inspiring the largest amount of bewildered-to-offended scoffing from everyone I try to explain it to.  I think of it like a video game: if a billiard ball hits another in a video game, it seems to us to cause the other ball to move, but of course there are no balls, and the reaction of the pixels on the screen is not created by balls colliding but by the computer itself changing the display.  To me it feels pretty intuitive but I find that most people find it outrageous!</p> <p>It is interesting to hear from Professor Nadler about "thoroughgoing" occasionalism taking away the ability to think and so on, which I can't say does appeal to me, but in terms of physical bodies it makes a lot of sense to me and I do personally like the idea that every single thing that ever happens is a miracle.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=18159&1=default&2=en&3=" token="s5oC2gE0SFXsTkAl2DPPPlRPNboR7kPhMxA94e0k7Js"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> </article> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&1=1685&2=comment_node_podcast_episode&3=comment_node_podcast_episode" token="8stPWQaRdJRZCjouKbgbkbStU72vccIoHJGBsGrDVUE"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <div>Further Reading</div> <div><p><a href="https://smnadler.wixsite.com/mysite/books">Prof Nadler's books</a> on occasionalism and other topics in early modern philosophy.</p></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/themes/atomism" hreflang="en">Atomism</a></div> <div><a href="/causality" hreflang="en">Causality</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/gods" hreflang="en">God(s)</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/interviews" hreflang="en">Interviews</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/mind" hreflang="en">Mind</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a></div> </div> <div><p>What inspired the occasionalist theory embraced by the 17th century Cartesians? We find out from a leading specialist on the topic.</p></div> <ul class="links inline"><li><a href="/occasionalism-nadler#comment-form" title="Share your thoughts and opinions." hreflang="en">Add new comment</a></li></ul> Sun, 08 Feb 2026 03:00:00 +0000 Peter Adamson 1674 at https://www.historyofphilosophy.net https://www.historyofphilosophy.net/zhuangzi-confucius <span>490. Steven Nadler on Occasionalism</span> <div> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/podcast_image/490%20Nadler.jpg" width="600" height="600" alt="Guest photo" /> </div> <span><span>Peter Adamson</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-05T04:00:00+02:00" title="Sunday, April 5, 2026 - 04:00">5 April 2026</time> </span> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <audio id="audio-player-1" preload="none" style="max-width: 100%;"> <source src="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3" type="audio/mp3"> Your browser does not support the audio element. </audio> </div> <a href="https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nqrcvpdcpewfm43v/HoP_490_Steven_Nadler_on_Occasionalism6d0vt.mp3"><img id="download" title="download mp3 file" alt="download-icon" src="/sites/default/files/images/download-icon.png"></a> <script> (function (Drupal, once) { Drupal.behaviors.mediaElementAudioPlayer = { attach: function (context, settings) { once('mediaelement-audio-player', 'audio', context).forEach(function (element) { const playerId = element.id; if (playerId) { new MediaElementPlayer(playerId, { iconSprite: '/images/mejs-controls.svg', // Adjust path as needed }); } }); } }; })(Drupal, once); </script> <div> <div>Podcast series</div> <div><a href="/series/early-modern-philosophy/france-and-netherlands" hreflang="en">France and the Netherlands</a></div> </div> <section> <article > <mark class="hidden" data-comment-timestamp="1775487675"></mark> <div data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-18159" class="my-commenty"> <div class="postedby"><span>TB</span> on 6 April 2026</div> <p> <strong>occasionalism</strong> </p> <div><p>This is the philosophical concept that has the most appeal to me while inspiring the largest amount of bewildered-to-offended scoffing from everyone I try to explain it to.  I think of it like a video game: if a billiard ball hits another in a video game, it seems to us to cause the other ball to move, but of course there are no balls, and the reaction of the pixels on the screen is not created by balls colliding but by the computer itself changing the display.  To me it feels pretty intuitive but I find that most people find it outrageous!</p> <p>It is interesting to hear from Professor Nadler about "thoroughgoing" occasionalism taking away the ability to think and so on, which I can't say does appeal to me, but in terms of physical bodies it makes a lot of sense to me and I do personally like the idea that every single thing that ever happens is a miracle.</p> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderLinks" arguments="0=18159&1=default&2=en&3=" token="s5oC2gE0SFXsTkAl2DPPPlRPNboR7kPhMxA94e0k7Js"></drupal-render-placeholder> </div> </article> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&1=1685&2=comment_node_podcast_episode&3=comment_node_podcast_episode" token="8stPWQaRdJRZCjouKbgbkbStU72vccIoHJGBsGrDVUE"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <div>490. Nadler on Occasionalism</div> <div> <div>Further Reading</div> <div><p><a href="https://smnadler.wixsite.com/mysite/books">Prof Nadler's books</a> on occasionalism and other topics in early modern philosophy.</p></div> </div> <div> <div><a href="/themes/atomism" hreflang="en">Atomism</a></div> <div><a href="/causality" hreflang="en">Causality</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/gods" hreflang="en">God(s)</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/interviews" hreflang="en">Interviews</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/mind" hreflang="en">Mind</a></div> <div><a href="/themes/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a></div> </div> <div><p>What inspired the occasionalist theory embraced by the 17th century Cartesians? We find out from a leading specialist on the topic.</p></div> <ul class="links inline"><li><a href="/occasionalism-nadler#comment-form" title="Share your thoughts and opinions." hreflang="en">Add new comment</a></li></ul> Sun, 01 Feb 2026 03:00:00 +0000 Peter Adamson 1668 at https://www.historyofphilosophy.net