Pensees

BlaisePascal,theprecociouslybrilliantcontemporaryofDescartes,wasagiftedmathematicianandphysicist,butitishisunfinishedapologiafortheChristianreligionuponwhichhisreputationnowrests.ThePenseesisacollectionofphilosophicalfragments,notesandessaysinwhichheexploresthecontradictionsofhumannatureinpsychological,social,metaphysicaland,aboveall,theologicalterms.MankindemergesfromPascal'sanalysisasawretchedanddesolatecreaturewithinanimpersonaluniverse,butwhoseexistencecanbetransformedthroughfaithinGod'sgrace.ThismasterlytranslationconveysPascal'sdisarminglypersonaltoneandcapturesallthefireandpassionoftheoriginal.Alsocontainedinthisvolumeareacomparisonbetweendifferenteditions,appendicesandabibliography.