Blaise Pascal: A Look at His Work in Apologetics, the Pensйes

BLAISE PASCAL

A Look at His Work in Apologetics, the Pensйes

By

Michael C. Meyer

A paper prepared for

David A. Dorman, Ph.D., Professor

GTHE501/History of the Modern Church

March 11, 2003

A CHRONOLOGY OF THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BLAISE PASCAL (1623-1662) 1

LIFE AND WORK OF PASCAL HISTORICAL EVENTS

1623 Born in Clermont-Ferrand, June 19. Death of Pope Gregory XV. Alliance between France, Savoy, and Venice.

1626 Death of his mother, Antoinette.

1631 Family moves to Paris, his father Plays of Comeille, Mairet, Balzac

Йtienne appointed to government post. being shown in Paris.

1635 Blaise begins to show his Formation of scientific academy

precocity in science. by P.Mersenne, one of the first in Europe.

1640 Pascal family moves to Rouen. Monetary reform in France.

Йtienne appointed Tax Commissioner. First

publication of Pascal, "Essay on Cones."

1642 Pascal's first attempt to make End of English Civil War: Death of French

a calculating machine. cardinal and statesman, Richelieu.

1646 Pascal family becomes committed in

Christian faith.

1647 Return of Pascal to Paris for health reasons.

1648 Blaise and his sister Jacqueline begin Treaty of Westphalia ends Thirty Years' War:

to relate with Port-Royal community. Revolt of Paris against Louis XIV, October 21.

1649 Family seeks refuge in Clermont-Ferrand.

1651 Death of his father, September 24. Struggle between French Parliament and monarch.

Rise of Turenne.

1652 Jacqueline enters community of Port-Royal, Louis XIV retakes Paris, October 21.

January 4. Blaise begins notes on the Pensйes.

1654 Blaise experiences his conversion Reconciliation between Mazarin and Cromwell.

to Christ, November 23.

1655 First stay at Port-Royal, and leads the

duc de Roannez to Christ.

1656 Writes the first Provincial Letter, January 23. Partition of Poland between Sweden and

The remaining 17 letters continue until 24 Brandenburg.

March 1657. He collates the Pensйes. His niece

Marguerite miraculously cured,