NOCTUA
La tradizione filosofica dall’antico al moderno
History of Philosophy from the Ancient to the Modern Age
Autore / Author: Lucie Lebreton
Affiliazione / Author affiliation: Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne
Titolo / Title: Pascal, ou le règne de la force
Abstract: If Pascal is essentially present in common representations and in the studies devoted to him as a spiritual and religious author, rarely has a thinker given force such a place in his reading of reality. In his view, it is the ‘queen of the world’, and even the queen of queens, since it governs the formidable powers of custom and imagination. We show here that Pascal’s analyses of force go far beyond the political framework in which they are generally confined. Indeed, Pascal’s reign of force seems to constitute a philosophical – as well as a scientific – thesis on the nature of reality: we live in a physical world, in a world of bodies entirely governed by force and, although we find it hard to recognise, along with concupiscence it constitutes ‘the source of all our actions’. This study thus sets out to highlight what makes Pascal a great thinker on force, one who will inspire the most daring philosophers in their speculations.
Keywords: Pascal; force; reality; imagination; custom; three orders; material; spiritual.
English title: Pascal, or the Reign of Force
DOI: 10.14640/NoctuaXII3
Rivista / Journal: Noctua
Anno / Volume: XII
Fascicolo / Issue: 1
Pagine / Pages: 140-170
Pubblicazione / Publication date: 28/06/2025
Permalink: https://dx.doi.org/10.14640/NoctuaXII3
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ISSN 2284-1180