Fragment 90 (Laf. 90, Br. 93)
Blaise Pascal
Pascal's skepticism about the role of reason in forming beliefs pushes against the Enlightenment ideal of Rational Man. In the mid-17th century, the rationalism of Descartes was gaining ground, with its emphasis on clear and distinct ideas as the path to knowledge. Pascal, however, saw human nature as irrational and driven by deeper currents of emotion and desire. This insight foreshadowed modern psychology’s exploration of the unconscious forces that shape our convictions.