The Providential Letters

This new Reader's Edition contains a new Afterword by the translator on Pascal's personal relationship with Descartes and his intellectual objections to the new Cartesian rationality which fundamentally changed the course of both Science and Philosophy, a short biography on Pascal's life and impact. This is followed by a timeline of his life and relationships, an index of his core Philosophic terminology, a chronological list and summary of all of his published and posthumous works, and the text of Pascal's Memorial, a poetic, fragmented account of his divine vision in 1654. This volume introduces the reader to Pascal's metaphysical works and brings to life Pascal's witness of the dawn of a new Scientific age. Letters to a Provincial (Les Provinciales) is a series of 18 letters written by Blaise Pascal between 1656 and 1657, addressing the controversy between the Jansenists and the Jesuits.

Originally published anonymously, the letters were intended to defend the Jansenist theologian Antoine Arnauld, who had been condemned by the Sorbonne for his views on grace and predestination. In these letters, Pascal criticized Jesuit moral theology, especially its use of "casuistry," which he saw as a way of justifying moral laxity through complex reasoning. Known for their wit, clarity, and satirical tone, the Provincial Letters made complex theological debates accessible to the general public.They played a crucial role in swaying public opinion in favor of the Jansenists, while exposing the inconsistencies and weaknesses in Jesuit arguments.Pascal's blend of sharp criticism and eloquent writing made the Letters not only a key work in theological disputes, but also a landmark in French literature. This is volume 5 of the 7-part Complete Works of Pascal by LP. This volume covers Pascal’s groundbreaking contributions to mathematics, science, and engineering, as well as his Scientific-Philosophical commentary on the Enlightenment's Scientific progress.