Blaise Pascal, the seventeenth-century French philosopher and scientist, is perhaps best known for his "wager," an argument about the existence of God. But there was much more to Pascal and his brilliance.
In this accessibleand well-documented study, philosopher Douglas Groothuis introduces readers to Pascal's life as well as the breadth of his intellectual pursuits, including his contributions to mathematics, science, ethics, and theology. Groothuis overviews the keypoints of Pascal's Pensées, which captures his thoughts about God, humanity, and Jesus Christ. Readers will also explore Pascal's views on a range of topics, including culture, politics, Islam, and miracles.
Often quoted and often misunderstood, Pascal is a complex figure whose writings have charmed, puzzled, and inspired readers across the centuries. With guidance from a leading Christian thinker and longtime student of Pascal, Beyond the Wager takes you on a journey todiscover the riches Pascal has to offer today.
Table of Contents:
Preface
1. Blaise Pascal: Known and Unknown
2. A Short Life of Pascal
3. Scientist and Philosopher of Science
4. Theological Controversy
5. The Character and Plan of the Pensées
6. God: To Prove or Not to Prove
7. Skepticism and the Hidden God
8. Deposed Royalty
9. Jesus Christ: Miracles and Prophecy
10. The Excellence of Christ
11. Christianity, Mohammad, and the Jews
12. Wagering a Life on God
13. Pascal's Critique of Cultureand Politics
Conclusion: A Christian Genius for the Ages
Appendix: Descartes and Pascal Get into an Argument in Heaven
Bibliography
Name Index
Subject Index
About the Author :
Douglas Groothuis (PhD, University of Oregon) is professor of philosophy at Denver Seminary. He is the author of numerous books, including Christian Apologetics, Fire in the Streets, Philosophy in Seven Sentences, Truth Decay, and Walking Through Twilight. He has written for scholarly journals including Religious Studies, Sophia, Research in Philosophy and Technology, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, and Philosophia Christi, as well as for numerous popular magazines.
Review :
"A fine introduction to the breadth of Pascal's apologetics, Douglas Groothuis's Beyond the Wager is accessible without oversimplification and careful without pedantry. It includes intriguing discussions of little-known or overlooked arguments and ideas in Pascal's thought, such as those concerning the status of messianic prophecies as evidence for the truth of Christianity and the rational appraisal of non-Christian religions."
Michael Rota, professor of philosophy at the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) and author of Taking Pascal's Wager
"I have been reading Blaise Pascal's writings as well as other contemporary writers and apologists who have discussed Pascal and his ideas for at least three decades. Beyond the Wager: The Christian Brilliance of Blaise Pascal is one of the finest introductions to this amazing Christian thinker available. Douglas Groothuis's fine book is both substantive and accessible—a must-read for all of us contemporary Pascalians."
Kenneth Samples, senior scholar with Reasons to Believe
"Blaise Pascal is a genius for the ages, though he's often misunderstood and sometimes maligned. Douglas Groothuis's treatment is admirable—one of the ablest philosophers of our day writing on one of the ablest of all time. No thoughtful defense of faith today can afford to avoid engagement with the brilliance and the passion of Pascal's Pensées."
Os Guinness, author of Fool's Talk
"This is a stunningly good and meticulously researched yet lively look at the work of the pioneering Christian thinker Blaise Pascal. Groothuis masterfully does for a new generation what needs to be done over and over, introducing this creative mind anew to show the importance of his tremendous insights for our time, and all times."
Tom Morris, author of Philosophy for Dummies and Making Sense of It All
"Philosopher Douglas Groothuis has devoted decades to studying, teaching, and writing about Blaise Pascal, and it shows. Groothuis skillfully addresses Pascal's fascinating life, scientific achievements, theological controversies, apologetic efforts, and more. His adept presentation of Pascal's unique anthropological argument for Christianity is particularly superb. Beyond the Wager is an excellent resource for seasoned Pascal readers and those new to the compelling insights gleaned from the works of the French polymath."
Robert Velarde, author of A Visual Defense: The Case For and Against Christianity
