Blaise Pascal and transcendence: reflection on human condition in health

Abstract

A man of science, the author of Thoughts sought to give a religious meaning to his diseases. However, more than attach himself to some transcendence that might help him overcome the pains without despair and without blaming God, Pascal dealt with human condition. He considered human being as of mystery, selfishness and, above all, insufficiency. It is not just about to consider if the French philosopher sought religion due to his diseases or if he thought in a certain way due to them. He went beyond that. Since human condition, in its several aspects, guided his thoughts by resulting in an anthropology that considers human being as contingent and, in his insufficiency, is submitted to pain and suffering, that makes possible to lay the foundations of a philosophy of health able to provide references to a reflection in the field of sciences, health care and health assistance.