A genius inscribed in his century
If we sometimes have the image of a most ascetic Blaise Pascal, retired in a monastery, we must not forget his multiple faces. He also experienced a breathless social life, as shown by his interest in the notion of wager prompted by games of chance. He is also a savvy entrepreneur who knows how to spot innovative or visionary ideas. Pascal is involved in many debates of his time, in science, in theology or in philosophy. The quality of his writing, his caustic humor and the solidity of his reasoning hit the mark.
All articles in this folder
Betting on God's existence—Pascal's Pensées | Tangente
Pascal's Pensées abounds in arguments and reflections that assess the probability of a supreme being's existence. A careful, unabridged reading of the various fragments reveals a philosopher steeped in doubt and possessed of extraordinary subtlety.
Pascal's rhetoric of chiaroscuro | Tangente
Pascal's dialectic consists in identifying the paradoxes and contradictions in another person's discourse. He thus unsettles his readers, making them realize that where they thought they had knowledge, they know nothing. Antithesis is one of his favorite weapons.
Draining the Marais Poitevin in the 17th century | Tangente
Known far beyond France’s borders, the Marais Poitevin has become a haven for many plant and animal species: today, the “Green Venice” covers nearly 100,000 hectares of lush natural landscape! But do you know its history?
Did Pascal invent public transport? | Tangente
A great many websites hail Pascal as the brilliant inventor of public transport. Is there any basis for this claim? Was Pascal one of the architects of this revolutionary, modern system of travel?