Pascal's Pensées

Synopsis

This edition opened with a tremendously interesting, illuminating and rewarding introduction by T.S. Eliot. That Introduction remains in this Kindle copy. It is a minor masterpiece of analysis and explanation and sets the Pensees precisely in the context of Christian apology, French literary history, and Pascal's own life. It's actually worth reading just on its own. [Amazon]
Many quote Pascal. Atheists sometime do, but purely out of context. Christians frequently. This brilliant Mathematician who invented the calculator and barometer and who made significant contributions to geometry by age 13 was a devout Christian. The Penses are thoughts in isolation. I particularly liked his exposition of the Old Testament types. He understood very well the foreshadowing of the Messiah and properly referred to Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. Unlike some of his contemporaries, he revered and understood the Jews as God's chosen people. On other topics, his philosophical dislike of Montaigne and Rousseau. Of course the very brilliant Pascal's Wager which every atheist must consider: [Amazon]

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Released

1669

Location

Global

Setting

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) First translated into English in 1688;