“HIGH-SOCIETY’S PHILOSOPHY” OR CONJUNCTIVE MOOD IN THE HISTORY OF THOUGHT: PASCAL AND DE MÉRÉ

Abstract

Th e author turns to B. Pascal’s heritage and interprets it from the position of “high-society philosophy”. He considers ideas of the cavalier de Méré as having determining infl uence on development of Pascal’s thought. Hedonistic version of de Méré’s everyday philosophy, which aim is to achieve happiness, is discussed in the article as alternative to strict scientifi c ideal and moral rigor. Th is approach on the one hand sets up an unusual perspective for consideration of intellectual history of the XVII century. In such perspective the culture of “gallant century” appears as synthesis of gallant discourse with scientifi c discourse which forms the unique formation in the history of thought. On the other hand, it opens a space for refl ection on heuristic possibilities of subjunctive mood in the history of thought. Refs 6.

Keywords:

Pascal, XVII century, history of thought, high-society philosophy, gallant discourse