Pascal and the therapy of faith
This study of Pascalâs PensĂ©es focuses on a central aspect of Pascalâs project: the application of philosophical therapy to humanist agnostics to instil and sustain Christian belief in them. I identify four therapeutic phases: ï­ Pascal says we fear suffering after death, so it is in our interest to investigate the Christian message. However his account of the afterlife does not satisfactorily show in what way persons can live on after death and will not infallibly engage our interest in avoiding Hell or enjoying Heaven. ï­ Pascal contends that earthly life is futile and that the Christian doctrine of the Fall is the best explanation of the human predicament, an explanation which points us towards dependence on God for the meaning of life. Yet even if we accept Pascalâs pessimistic estimate of human life, he does not successfully show that Christianity provides the best explanation of it. ï­ Pascal argues that there is no purely human morality because the philosophersâ successive attempts to show how to achieve peace of mind in the moral life have failed to find an objective basis for a truly altruistic ethic: only Christianity can do this. But this risks conflict between Christian and other ideals.
Robbins, Christopher William
Pascal and the therapy of faith. This study of Pascalâs PensĂ©es focuses on a central aspect of Pascalâs project: the application of philosophical therapy to humanist agnostics to instil and sustain Christian belief in them. I identify four therapeutic phases: ï­ Pascal says we fear suffering after death, so it is in our interest to investigate the Christian message. However his account of the afterlife does not satisfactorily show in what way persons can live on after death and will not infallibly engage our interest in avoiding Hell or enjoying Heaven. ï­ Pascal contends that earthly life is futile and that the Christian doctrine of the Fall is the best explanation of the human predicament, an explanation which points us towards dependence on God for the meaning of life. Yet even if we accept Pascalâs pessimistic estimate of human life, he does not successfully show that Christianity provides the best explanation of it. ï­ Pascal argues that there is no purely human morality because the philosophersâ successive attempts to show how to achieve peace of mind in the moral life have failed to find an objective basis for a truly altruistic ethic: only Christianity can do this. But this risks conflict between Christian and other ideals.
therapy faith study focus central aspect project application philosophical therapy humanist sustain christian belief them identify_four therapeutic phase say fear suffer death interest investigate christian message however account afterlife satisfactorily show_way person live death engage interest avoid hell enjoy heaven contend life futile christian_doctrine fall best explanation human predicament explanation point_towards dependence god mean life yet even accept pessimistic estimate human_life successfully show christianity provide_best explanation argues purely human morality philosopher successive attempt_show achieve peace mind moral life fail objective basis truly altruistic ethic christianity this risk conflict christian ideal