Catholic, Lutheran and Calvinist Scholastics on the Individuation of Material Substances

This paper asks the question whether any peculiar features of Protestant, specifically, Calvinist metaphysical theories of the individuation of bodies could explain the preponderance of Calvinists among early-seventeenth century atomists. By examining the arguments on individuation of the highly influential late-sixteenth century Catholic philosophers, Zabarella and Suarez, I show that Zabarella’s approach to individuation crossed over to the early Lutheran Aristotelian metaphysician, Cornelis Martini, whereas Suarez’s approach was favored by Scheibler – one of the next generation of Scholastic Lutheran philosophers –, and by his equally influential Calvinist contemporary, Burgersdijk. Though the lack of confessional divides indicates that there is no direct link between Calvinist theories of individuation and atomism, I show that Protestant appropriations of Suarez’s account opened up a metaphysically safe space for non-hylomorphic views of bodies.