Why Read Pascal Today?

Name: Why Read Pascal Today?
Price: 43.15 AUD
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ISBN: 9781009321440

Yuval Avnur (Scripps College, California)

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Paperback

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English

Cambridge University Press
26 February 2026

Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge; Nature & existence of God

Series: Why Read Them Today

Blaise Pascal (1623–1662) made important contributions to mathematics, the theory of probability, and several scientific fields, was one of the inventors of the first mathematical calculator, and was also a deeply religious thinker who grappled with issues concerning the existence of God, the possibility of human salvation, and the sinfulness of human life. His famous Wager is often discussed, but there is much else of interest and relevance in his thought which remains undiscovered. This book provides an accessible yet detailed account of Pascal's philosophy and how it applies to important issues facing all of us today, as well as novel interpretations of Pascal's ideas. It will stimulate and challenge anyone who is interested in the role of the heart in rationality, human nature, our relation to reality and our individual and collective purpose, and the underexplored thoughts of one of history's greatest geniuses.

By: Yuval Avnur (Scripps College California)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Weight: 205g
ISBN: 9781009321440
ISBN 10: 1009321447
Series: Why Read Them Today
Pages: 162
Publication Date: 26 February 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction; 1. The limits of reason and experience; 2. The heart; 3. The ambiguous world; 4. Desires and distractions; 5. Wager with all your heart; 6. A secular Pascalian vision; Suggested further reading; Index.

Yuval Avnur is author of The Skeptic and the Veridicalist (Cambridge, 2023) and numerous essays on epistemology and religion, and co-editor (with Roger Ariew) of The Blackwell Companion to Pascal (forthcoming).

Reviews for Why Read Pascal Today?

'Avnur delivers a splendid answer to his title question, generating many unexpected insights about Pascal's relevance to contemporary philosophical debates and social problems. His prose is clear and graceful and his argumentation careful and subtle. His affection for Pascal is contagious.' J. L. Schellenberg, Mount Saint Vincent University