For much of his life Pascal (1623-62) worked on a magnum opus which was never published in its intended form. Instead, he left a mass of fragments which became known as the "Pensees", and they occupy a crucial place in Western philosophy and religious writing. Pascal's general intention was to confound scepticism about metaphysical questions. Some of the "Pensees" are fully developed literary reflections on the human condition, some contradict others, and some remain jottings whose meaning will never be clear. The most ...
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For much of his life Pascal (1623-62) worked on a magnum opus which was never published in its intended form. Instead, he left a mass of fragments which became known as the "Pensees", and they occupy a crucial place in Western philosophy and religious writing. Pascal's general intention was to confound scepticism about metaphysical questions. Some of the "Pensees" are fully developed literary reflections on the human condition, some contradict others, and some remain jottings whose meaning will never be clear. The most important are among the most powerful aphorisms about human experience and behaviour ever written in any language. This translation includes the principal dossiers classified by Pascal, as well as the essential portion of the important Writings on Grace. A detailed thematic index gives access to Pascal's areas of concern, while the selection of texts and the introduction help to show why Pascal changed the plan of his projected work before abandoning the book he might have written.
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has soft covers. In good all round condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 250grams, ISBN: 9780192829900.
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Because of the nature of the fragments left to us, forming an edition of Pascal's Pensees remains a tremendous task. There have been handed down several systems of arranging the scattered fragments, and so one can find multiple versions (see for example that published by Harvard, by Penguin, and this by Oxford). This Oxford edition isn't the clearest edition, and due to some abridgement, if often leaves the reader confused about when a new fragment begins. But the Pensees are invaluable for any interested in philosophy and religion, or in 17th century polemics, philosophy, or theology. But this reader would recommend the Penguin or Harvard editions over the Oxford. Whichever you choose, the Pensees will promise to be a very beneficial read, and are an important work in many questions of religion, philosophy, and science.
