Descartes vs. Pascal - 1177 Words

Descartes vs. Pascal For centuries, human beings have been debating over the validity of the use of reason. This is a very, very difficult subject to discuss, as one is forced to study something which is at that moment being used in their study. Two classic thinkers who contrasted on their view of reason were Descartes and Pascal. Though both saw reason as the primary source of knowledge, they disagreed over the competence of human reason. Descartes, the skeptic, said that we could use reason to find certain truth if we used it correctly, while Pascal said that we cant know certain truth, but reason is the best source of knowledge that we have. Descartes: Reason is the tool by which we know everything that we know. But most†¦show more content†¦We have been deceived, as Ive previously written, Man is only a subject full of error . . . Nothing shows him the truth. Everything deceives him. These two sources of truth, reason and the senses, besides both wanting in sincerity, deceive each other in turn (Pascal #83). But, as Ive also written, Man is but a reed, the most feeble thing in nature; but he is a thinking reed (Pascal #347). Therefore, our use of reason is retarded, but we do have reason and can use this reason to find truth. We can doubt these truths as Descartes thoroughly explained, but we have no choice but to find truth. As Ive argued about the existence of God, Shall he doubt whether he [God] exists? We cannot go so far as that; and I lay it down as a fact that there never has been a real complete skeptic. Nature sustains our feeble reason, and prevents it raving to this extent (Pascal #434). We can trust our senses, as Descartes concluded, with the realization that we cannot rely solely on empirical knowledge. We also have intuitive ideas from which we learn truth. As Ive said, The heart has its reasons, which reason does not know. We feel it in a thousand things (Pascal, #277). I think Descartes would disagree with this based on the ability to doubt the feelings of the heart. I hold true to it based on the fact that we cannot know certainShow MoreRelated Descartes Vs. Pascal Essay1172 Words   |  5 Pages Descartes vs. Pascal nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;For centuries, human beings have been debating over the validity of the use of reason. This is a very, very difficult subject to discuss, as one is forced to study something which is at that moment being used in their study. Two classic thinkers who contrasted on their view of reason were Descartes and Pascal. Though both saw reason as the primary source of knowledge, they disagreed over the competence of human reason. Descartes, the skeptic,Read MoreDifference Between Faith And Knowledge1561 Words   |  7 Pagesupcoming paragraphs. I will briefly explain the argument of Pascal’s wager and the reasoning behind it. Is there a God? Should I believe in God? 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