MALEBRANCHE, NICOLAS, a French philosopher, b. Aug. 6, 1638, at Paris, where his father was president of the chamber of accounts. He was deformed and sickly, and from his childhood fond of solitude. At the age of 22 he entered into the congregation of the oratory, and devoted himself to the study of Bible history and of the fathers of the church tfil Descartes's treatise, De Homine, falling into his hands, attracted 'din to philosophy. His famous work, De la Re,cherche de la Veritg (3 vols. Paris, 1674, and other editions), displaying great depth and originality of thought, combined with per spicuity and elegance, had for its object the psychological investigation of the causes of the errors to which the human mind is liable, and of the nature of truth and the way of reaching it. He maintains that we see all things in God (his famous "Vision en Dieu); that all beings and thoughts exist in God (Dieu est le lieu des esprits, comme respace est le lieu cies corps); and that God is the first cause of all changes which take place in bodies and souls, which are therefore merely passive therein. His system is a kind of mystic
idealism. It was immediately opposed by Ant. Araauld, Bossuet, and rnany others, and was subjected to a thorough and critical examination by Locke and Liebnitz. Besides the work above mentioned, Malebranehe vrrote Traite de Morale, a Trade de la, Com munication de ffouvem,ent, and Conversations Metaphysiques Chrgtiennes, in the last of which he endeavored to exhibit the harmony of his philosophic views with Christianity. He died at Paris (as English critics are fond of saying) of a dispute with the subtle Berkeley, Oct. 13, 1715.