  Another fashion has it that Gassendi's doctrinal beliefs form the foundation of, or otherwise influence, his philosophical and scientific views. One such perspective suggests that his spiritual concerns and materialist ontology jointly shape the character of his metaphysics—leading to irresolvable internal conflict (Bloch 1971, Sortais 1922). Another perspective has it that his theological views, and specifically his voluntarism, lead him to his empiricism (Osler 1994, Sarasohn 1996). But it is not clear that Gassendi is best understood as laboring in service of a doctrinal credo, or as motivating his philosophical views by appeal to his theological sensibility. He indeed tailors his Epicurean views to meet theological constraints and endorses the only astronomical world-view he believes acceptable to the Church, that of Tycho Brahe. Yet Gassendi's definitive criterion for any physical, metaphysical, or epistemological thesis is approximation to the truth, which is empirically-determined.  On the other hand, some theologically inspired claims are woven into the fabric of his metaphysics and psychology. For example, there are two souls, one sensitive and the other spiritual, and the latter is required in order to satisfy religious demands for an immortal unity attached to, but not susceptible to the fate of, the material body. But in such cases Gassendi is generally clear about non-philosophical motives, introducing such corrections or additions to his reasoned or empirically demonstrated views as are necessary by the dictates of faith or Scripture. He frequently defends the primacy of Roman Catholicism and faith over natural reason (O I 5a, O I 49a, O II 237a-b) yet easily distinguishes between objects of scientific and theological investigation and reflection (O III (De Proportione) 636a). To suggest that he arrives at the core tenets of his metaphysics or epistemology in order to draw out the ultimate consequences of his theology thereby misconstrues his broad philosophical motives as well as his particular reflective and investigative strategies.