Malebranche, Nicolas

(1638-1715)

   philosopher, theologian

   Born in paris, Nicolas Malebranche, who developed the metaphysical theory of occasionalism, studied philosophy and theology at the Collège de la Marche and at the sorbonne. In 1660, he entered the congregation of the oratory and was ordained a priest. some of Malebranche's positions derive from rené descartes, but his own system is profoundly original. His doctrine of occasionalism denies the possibility of any action of matter upon mind. He argues that, since we see all things in God, human knowledge is possible only through interaction between humans and God. Any changes in objects or thoughts are caused by God, not by the objects or individuals. His principal writings include De la Recherche de la vérité (1674), and Traité de la nature et de la grâce (1675), which was criticized by jacques-bénigne bossuet, félix fénelon, and Antoine arnauld. Malebranche's Traité de morale was published in 1683, and Les Entretiens sur la métaphysique et la religion in 1688. He also wrote several treatises on the psychology of vision, the nature of light and color, and calculus. A distinguished mathematician, Malebranche was made an honorary member of the Academy of sciences in 1699.