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.
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.
Of special interest to home schooling families, this book recounts the recognition by Pascal's father of his remarkable talents and the provisions he made for his son's education - one of the earliest and most successful examples of home ...
Peter Kreeft believes that Baise Pascal is the first post-medieval apologist.
“You are the most infuriating human being I have ever known. The other day being reasonable was bunk, and now you're congratulating me for it.” “I never said being reasonable was bunk. I said you can't base absolutely everything on ...
Likewise with the claim that there is a God, Hanson thought: in the absence of any clear sign that there is such a being, ... So to claim that there is a God who is hidden and to try to explain this hiddenness is, from Hanson's point of ...
Examines a letter written by Blaise Pascal to Pierre de Fermat in 1654 that speaks of probability and numerical values that have had an impact on the modern world with regard to calculating insurance rates, the housing markets, and car ...
" This book by A. W. F. Edwards, Professor of Biometry at the University of Cambridge, explores Pascal's Arithmetical Triangle and the way it has been studied, enjoyed, and used by mathematicians throughout history.
Michael Rota explores the dynamics of doubt, evidence, and decision-making in order to consider what is necessary for people to embrace the Christian faith—and the difference it makes in people's lives.
The three outsiders are Blaise Pascal, Soren Kierkegaard, and Simone Weil.
Knowledge of gra mmar helps students improve their written and spoken language and become better communicators. This book allow for the study of grammar a t the sentence, clause and word level.