The Speak Life Podcast Graham Tomlin: These Two Thinkers Made Your World — Descartes and Pascal || SLP594
Jun 27, 2025
Graham Tomlin, a Pascal scholar and author of 'Blaise Pascal: The Man Who Made the Modern World,' explores the philosophical turmoil between René Descartes and Blaise Pascal. He highlights Descartes' radical skepticism versus Pascal's faith-driven approach. The conversation emphasizes the dehumanizing effects of modern views on faith, the heart's essential role in understanding, and Pascal's intense spiritual journey. Tomlin emphasizes how genuine faith transcends mere rationality, ultimately shaping a deeper understanding of happiness and connection with God.
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Descartes' Radical Self-Centered Doubt
- Descartes places the individual thinking self at the center of knowledge and reality, doubt being the starting point.
- This shift separates mind from body and sidelines God, shaping modern Western thought deeply.
Faith Beyond Rational Proof
- Descartes begins knowledge with doubt and demands proof before belief.
- Pascal counters that some truths, including belief in God, arise from the heart, not purely rational evidence.
Faith Misunderstood Today
- Modern faith is often viewed as inferior knowledge or superstition, lacking reliable proof.
- Pascal and older Christian tradition see faith as foundational, not secondary, to understanding reality.