This book is a study of Blaise Pascal's defence of Christian belief
in the Pensees. 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.
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