John Norris (philosopher)

John Norris (1657-1711) was an English idealist philosopher, theologian, and poet. He is best known for his advocacy of Nicolas Malebranche's philosophy of occasionalism, which posits that God is the sole efficient cause of all events in the world. This means that creatures, including humans, do not have any inherent causal power; rather, God intervenes directly to produce the effects we perceive.

Norris was born in Collingbourne Kingston, Wiltshire, and educated at Winchester College and Exeter College, Oxford. He became a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, in 1680. He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England and held various ecclesiastical positions throughout his life, including rector of Newton St Loe and later of Bemerton, near Salisbury.

Norris's philosophical work aimed to reconcile reason and religion, defending Christian doctrines through the lens of Malebranche's metaphysics. He believed that occasionalism provided a powerful explanation for the existence of the world and the relationship between God and creation. His key philosophical writings include:

• The Theory of the Ideal or Intelligible World (1701-1704) - His most significant work, presenting his systematic philosophy and defense of occasionalism.
• Christian Blessedness (1690)
• Reflections Upon the Conduct of Human Life (1690-91)
• An Essay towards the Theory of the Ideal World (1701)
• Cursory Reflections upon a Book call'd, An Essay concerning Human Understanding (1690), a critique of John Locke's empiricism.

Norris engaged in intellectual debates with several prominent thinkers of his time, including John Locke, whose Essay Concerning Human Understanding he criticized. His critique focused on Locke's denial of innate ideas and his empiricist epistemology, which Norris believed undermined the foundations of religious knowledge.

Norris's thought is characterized by its synthesis of Neoplatonic influences, Cartesianism, and Christian theology. While his emphasis on occasionalism was not universally embraced, his work contributed significantly to the intellectual landscape of late 17th and early 18th century England and continues to be studied for its unique perspective on metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of religion.