NOCTUA

La tradizione filosofica dall’antico al moderno

History of Philosophy from the Ancient to the Modern Age

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Autore / Author: Chiara Catalano

Affiliazione / Author affiliation: Università del Salento, Lecce

Titolo / Title: Da Giansenio a Pascal: nascita e sviluppi del giansenismo dall’(im)possibilità dei comandamenti alla critica del potere prossimo

Abstract: This essay stems from the origins of Jansenism, from the publication of Cornelius Jansenius’s Augustinus (1640) to the conflict between Jansenists and Jesuits (1641–1643; 1649–1653), culminating in the condemnation of the Five Propositions. It examines the meaning of the First Proposition on the impossibility of observing the commandments in Augustine and, through a comparison between Jansenius and Pascal, explores the same theme in the Provinciales and Écrits sur la grâce. It focuses on the notion of proximate power and the criticism of the Jesuits, as well as the alleged proximity to the Thomists. The analysis highlights recurring themes in Jansenius and Pascal, derived from their common Augustinian reference, but also notes some contextual and stylistic differences between the two authors.

Keywords: Cornelius Jansenius; Blaise Pascal; Augustine; proximate power.

English title: From Jansenius to Pascal: The Origins and Developments of Jansenism from the (Im)possibility of the Commandments to the Critique of Proximate Power

DOI: 10.14640/NoctuaXII1

Rivista / Journal: Noctua

Anno / Volume: XII

Fascicolo / Issue: 1

Pagine / Pages: 1-42

Pubblicazione / Publication date: 28/06/2025

Permalink: https://dx.doi.org/10.14640/NoctuaXII1

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ISSN 2284-1180