Daniel Collette

This project presents for the first time the collaborative metaphysics of philosopher-siblings Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662, and Jacqueline Pascal, 1625-1661. Presently, the philosophical contributions of Jacqueline have been almost entirely overlooked and while Blaise is better known, rarely is he thought of as a metaphysician. Yet the metaphysical system that the siblings produce is robust and serves as the foundation for understanding their philosophy; this claim is strengthened by framing the textual analysis between their source materials in French mysticism and their reception. Drawing upon archival work from David Hume, this research reveals that Hume’s solution to skepticism, both custom and probability, is derived from Pascalian philosophy.