Pascal’s 400th birthday was a few weeks ago. I like Pascal for many reasons. Here are two:
First, he recognized that there is very little in life for which one can justifiably claim objective certainty. One can’t be sure about the existence or the nonexistence of God, or about whether or not life is meaningful, or about the reliability of science, or about the efficacy of medication, or about the success of one’s favorite political figure, or about the safety of driving to the grocery store, or about the nutritional value of a particular food, etc., etc. Most of the crucial issues in human life are at best matters of probability judgment. As this article notes, human life involves a series of calculated wagers — some more reasonable, others less so.
Second, he recognized that our lack of certainty bothers many people. Human beings desire the psychological comfort of certainty. When we can’t get it, we are inclined to convince ourselves that we have it or distract ourselves from the angst of not having it. We do the former by taking dogmatic views in religion, politics, science, etc. We do the latter by turning to entertainment, games, parties, food, and other pleasures.
Pascal’s insight into the human condition was noteworthy. His Pensées deserve reading and re-reading for that insight and for the many others it contains.
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I love Pascal and the very beginning of Pensees captured my attention. I love it.