The Canon Library
Cover of Pensées

Early Modern · Philosophy, theology

Pensées

by Blaise Pascal. Fragments diagnose human grandeur and misery while arguing that reason alone cannot satisfy the need for meaning.

Date
1670
Origin
France
Era
Early Modern
Genre
Philosophy, theology
Difficulty
Challenging
Length
Medium
Collection
The Western Canon

Subjects and themes

FaithReasonHuman Contradiction

Why it matters

Fragments diagnose human grandeur and misery while arguing that reason alone cannot satisfy the need for meaning.

This work is included in the collection on the basis of great books / harvard. Its cataloged influence level is 5 out of 5.

Related works

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Confessions

Jean-Jacques Rousseau · Enlightenment · Autobiography

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Essays

Francis Bacon · Early Modern · Essays / philosophy

Reading lists featuring Pensées

Reading path

Essential 100

A century of works that gives the broadest useful first view of the Western canon. 100 books · Advanced.