Blaise Pascal (1623-62)
Major work
• Pensees
Importance
• French mathematician, scientist, philosopher, and religious thinker
• Known for “Pascal’s Wager”–belief in God is a good bet because the consequences of not believing are much greater
• Said it was possible to have reasons for believing something without evidence (moderate fideist view of faith)
• Rejected philosophy’s worth
• Believed original sin explains mystery of man
• Wrote against views of the Jesuits