The Art of Persuasion
About this ebook
No one is ignorant that there are two avenues by which opinions are received into the soul, which are its two principal powers: the understanding and the will. The more natural is that of the understanding, for we should never consent to any but demonstrated truths; but the more common, though the one contrary to nature, is that of the will; for all men are almost led to believe not of proof, but by attraction. This way is base, ignoble, and irrelevant: every one therefore disavows it. Each one professes to believe and even to love nothing but what he knows to be worthy of belief and love.
About the author
Mathématicien ou philosophe ? Théologien ou physicien ? Pascal était tout cela à la fois, ce qui en fait un des esprits les plus brillants de son temps. Figure intellectuelle majeure du XVIIe siècle, Pascal demeure aujourd'hui une référence en matière de réflexion sur Dieu, sur l'infini, sur l'inconnu. Ses recherches ont contribué à faire avancer les sciences dures autant que ses fameuses Pensées ont amené ses contemporains à s'interroger sur leur rapport au spirituel.
