Complete Works of Blaise Pascal

by Blaise Pascal, Original Thinkers Institute

The "Complete Works of Blaise Pascal" is a literary and philosophical treasure trove, encompassing Pascal's most renowned writings, including the "Pensées," "Provincial Letters," and a collection of his essays. Blaise Pascal, the genius of 17th-century France, stands as a luminary of both literature and philosophy, and his works continue to captivate readers, scholars, and thinkers across the world.

The "Pensées" is a collection of Pascal's fragmented thoughts, reflections, and aphorisms that delve into the depths of human nature, the existence of God, and the enigma of faith. It is a work of profound spirituality and intellectual exploration. The "Provincial Letters" are a brilliant series of essays that critically examine moral and religious issues, written with wit and sharpness.

The collection of essays encompasses a wide array of subjects, from rhetoric and eloquence to religion, making it a testament to Pascal's multifaceted genius. Together, these works provide a comprehensive view of Pascal's contributions to literature, philosophy, and religious thought.

"Complete Works of Blaise Pascal" offers readers an immersive journey into the mind of a polymath who continues to inspire and challenge individuals to explore the profound mysteries of faith, reason, and human existence. It is an essential resource for those seeking to delve into the world of one of history's most celebrated intellectuals.

977 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2023

About the author

Early work of Blaise Pascal of France included the invention of the adding machine and syringe and the co-development with Pierre de Fermat of the mathematical theory of probability; later, he, a Jansenist, wrote on philosophy and theology, notably as collected in the posthumous Pensées (1670).

This contemporary of René Descartes attained ten years of age in 1633, when people forced Galileo Galilei to recant his belief that Earth circled the Sun. He lived in Paris at the same time, when Thomas Hobbes in 1640 published his famous Leviathan (1651). Together, Pascal created the calculus.

A near-fatal carriage accident in November 1654 persuaded him to turn his intellect finally toward religion. The story goes that on the proverbial dark and stormy night, while Pascal rode in a carriage across a bridge in a suburb of Paris, a fright caused the horses to bolt, sending them over the edge. The carriage, bearing Pascal, survived. Pascal took the incident as a sign and devoted. At this time, he began a series, called the Provincial Letters , against the Jesuits in 1657.

Pascal perhaps most famously wagered not as clearly in his language as this summary: "If Jesus does not exist, the non Christian loses little by believing in him and gains little by not believing. If Jesus does exist, the non Christian gains eternal life by believing and loses an infinite good by not believing.”

Sick throughout life, Pascal died in Paris from a combination of tuberculosis and stomach cancer at 39 years of age. At the last, he confessed Catholicism.