Blaise Pascal, the precociously brilliant contemporary of Descartes, was a gifted mathematician and physicist, but it is his unfinished apologia for the Christian religion upon which his reputation now rests. The Penseés is a collection of philosohical fragments, notes and essays in which Pascal explores the contradictions of human nature in pscyhological, social, metaphysical and - above all - theological terms. Mankind emerges from Pascal's analysis as a wretched and desolate creature within an impersonal universe, but who can be transformed through faith in God's grace.
Blaise Pascal, the precociously brilliant contemporary of Descartes, was a gifted mathematician and physicist, but it is his unfinished apologia for the Christian religion upon which his reputation now rests. The Penseés is a collection of philosohical fragments, notes and essays in which Pascal explores the contradictions of human nature in pscyhological, social, metaphysical and - above all - theological terms. Mankind emerges from Pascal's analysis as a wretched and desolate creature within an impersonal universe, but who can be transformed through faith in God's grace. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
"Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid it may be true," declared Pascal in his Penseés. "The cure for this," he explained, "is first to show that religion is not contrary to reason, but worthy of reverence and respect. Next make it attractive, make good men wish it were true, and then show that it is." Motivated by the 17th-century view of the supremacy of human reason, Pascal (1623–1662) intended to write an ambitious apologia for Christianity, in which he argued the inability of reason to address metaphysical problems. While Pascal's untimely death prevented his completion of the work, these fragments published posthumously in 1670 as Penseés remain a vital part of religious and philosophical literature. Introduction by T. S. Eliot.
Peter Kreeft believes that Blaise Pascal is the first post-medieval apologist. No writer in history, claims Kreeft, is a more effective Christian apologist and evangelist to today's uprooted, confused, secularized pagans (inside and outside the Church) than Pascal. He was a brilliant man--a great scientist who did major work in physics and mathematics, as well as an inventor--whom Kreeft thinks was three centuries ahead of his time. His apologetics found in his Pens褳 are ideal for the modern, sophisticated skeptic. Kreeft has selected the parts of Pascal's Pens褳 which best respond to the needs of modern man, and offers his own comments on applying Pascal's wisdom to today's problems. Addressed to modern skeptics and unbelievers, as well as to modern Christians for apologetics and self-examination, Pascal and Kreeft combine to provide a powerful witness to Christian truth.
The Pensées is a collection of fragments written by the French 17th-century philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal. Pascal's religious conversion led him into a life of asceticism, and the Pensées was in many ways his life's work.
'Sexual Pensees' reveals the deepest feelings of a young woman in Manhattan, a young man, a Hollywood starlet, a film producer, and icons ranging from Flaubert to Mario Puzo."
This book is a study of Blaise Pascal's defence of Christian belief in the Pensées. Michael Moriarty aims to expound—and in places to criticize—what he argues is a coherent and original apologetic strategy. Setting out the basic philosophical and theological presuppositions of Pascal's project, the present volume draws the distinction between convictions attained by reason and those inspired by God-given faith. It also presents Pascal's view of the contradictions within human nature, between the 'wretchedness' (our inability to live the life of reason, to attain secure and durable happiness) and the 'greatness' (the power of thought, manifested in the very awareness of our wretchedness). His mind-body dualism and his mechanistic conception of non-human animals are discussed. Pascal invokes the biblical story of the Fall and the doctrine of original sin as the only credible explanation of these contradictions. His analysis of human occupations as powered by the twin desire to escape from painful thoughts and to gratify one's vanity is subjected to critical examination, as is his conception of the self and self-love. Pascal argues that just as Christianity propounds the only explanation for the human condition, so it offers the only kind of happiness that would satisfy our deepest longings. He thus reasons that we have an interest in investigating its truth-claims as rooted in the Bible and in history. The closing chapters of this book discuss Pascal's view of Christian morality and the famous 'wager' argument for opting in favour of Christian belief.
The French seventeenth century philosopher, Blaise Pascal was also a mathematician, physicist and master of prose. A child prodigy, Pascal had numerous interests and an innovative, untiring mind, making a significant contribution to a range of fields and studies. He laid the foundation for the modern theory of probabilities, formulating what came to be known as Pascal’s principle of pressure. He also propagated a religious doctrine that taught the experience of God through the heart rather than reason. An important mathematician, he went on to strongly influence the development of modern economics and social science. Pascal's most celebrated work is ‘Pensées’ (Thoughts), a collection of fragments left unfinished at his early death. It is a treatise on spirituality, representing a defense of the Christian religion, introducing the famous concept of "Pascal's wager". This comprehensive eBook presents Pascal’s collected (almost complete) works, with numerous illustrations, rare texts, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Pascal’s life and works * Concise introductions to the texts * All of the major works, with individual contents tables * Multiple translations of ‘Pensées’ * Features rare treatises appearing for the first time in digital publishing, including George Pearce’s seminal translations of uncollected ‘Thoughts’ * Excellent formatting of the texts * Rare letters and fragments, available in no other recollection * Special criticism section, with four essays evaluating Pascal’s contribution to philosophy * Features two biographies – discover Pascal’s incredible life * Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and genres Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles CONTENTS: The Books Essay on Conics (1639) (Tr. Frances Marguerite Clarke) The Provincial Letters (1657) (Tr. Thomas M’Crie) On the Geometrical Spirit (1658) (Tr. Orlando Williams Wight) On the Art of Persuasion (1658) (Tr. Orlando Williams Wight) Thoughts (1670) (Tr. Charles K. Paul and William Finlayson Trotter) Thoughts on Eloquence and Style (Tr. George Pearce) Miscellaneous Thoughts (Tr. George Pearce) Thoughts on the Jesuits and the Jansenists (Tr. George Pearce) Thoughts and Notes for the Provincial Letters (Tr. George Pearce) On the Pope and the Church (Tr. George Pearce) Conversation on Religion (Tr. George Pearce) Letters and Minor Works (Tr. Mary L. Booth and Orlando Williams Wight) The Criticism Port Royal and the Jesuits: Blaise Pascal (1866) Pascal (1898) by Leslie Stephen Pascal (1900) by William Cleaver Wilkinson Pascal (1916) by John Cowper Powys The Biographies Pascal (1878) by John Tulloch Blaise Pascal (1911) by George Chrystal Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles or to purchase this eBook as a Parts Edition of individual eBooks
