Homage to Pascal

by Thomas Scheff (December 2012)

Blaise Pascal was a theologian and also one of the earliest scientists. In his book Pensees (Thoughts, 1660) some of his comments are relevant to our current dilemma: what should be the relationship between science and religion?

As it stands, religion and science are not friends, to put it mildly. Pascal pointed out, however, that in a subtle way, they need each other badly. He proposed that science was based on what he called the spirit of geometrie, which translates as system. On the other hand, non-science, including religion, is based on the spirit of finesse, which translates as intuition.

In summary: science and religion need to make peace, because our society badly needs a wedding between system and intuition.

References:

 What's Love Got to Do with It?: The Emotional World of Popular Songs (Boulder: Paradigm Publishers) 2011

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