âA man is just a reed, the weakest in nature, but it is a thinking reed,â - this is probably the most famous statement by Blaise Pascal, which many people have heard.
What is this phrase about? What is the point of it? Why did she gain fame? These and many other questions invariably arise in those people who are characterized by curiosity and the desire to get to the bottom of the essence, which would not be discussed.
Who is Blaise Pascal?
In the middle of the first summer month, namely, on June 19, at the beginning of the XVII century, a boy was born in the unremarkable French town of Clermont-Ferrand. Parents called him a rather strange name - Blaise.
The child appeared in the family of the head of the local branch of the tax collection office, Mr. Pascal. His name was usually Etienne. The mother of the future star of French science was Antoinette Begon, daughter and heiress of the Seneschal of the province of Auvergne. The future scientist was not the only child; in the family, besides him, a couple of girls grew up.
In 1631, the whole family managed to move from a quiet provincial town to Paris, in which the scientist died in August 1662.
What did Pascal do?
Every person in high school knows the name of Pascal. It is because of the information received about him in the framework of the school curriculum that in most cases this personâs activity is associated exclusively with mathematics and other exact sciences.
Meanwhile, this scientist was engaged not only in physics, mechanics, mathematics, but also in literature, philosophy and much more. The father was engaged in the education of the scientist, who himself was a famous mathematician who made a significant contribution to the development of this science.
The scientist made many discoveries that are important for mathematics, mechanics, optics, physics. But besides this, Pascal was fascinated by literature, as well as many religious and philosophical issues relating to the place of man in the world. The result of research in these areas was a lot of work containing specific concepts and ideas, including the famous âthinking reedâ of Pascal.
In what work does a scientist compare a man with a reed?
This question is the most urgent for everyone who is not familiar with the works of Pascal, but has heard an expression comparing a person with a reed, and would like to read exactly the work from which the quote is taken.
The book is called Thoughts on Religion and Some Other Subjects. The original French name is âPensĂŠes sur la religion et sur quelques autres sujetsâ. But much more often this philosophical work is published under the name that sounds simply - âThoughtsâ.
This work was released only after the death of the philosopher, writer and scientist. In fact, it is not a book. This publication is a collection of all the records, drafts, drafts, which relatives of Pascal people found after his death.
What does this comparison say?
This philosophical metaphor is actually not just an artistic comparison, it actually determines that a person, as a thinking creature, should not consider himself something special. He still remains only a grain, a particle of the Universe, the same as sand, stones or reed. He is not like the Creator, standing above all things. Man himself is part of the created and only.
Reason, the ability to think - that is a distinctive feature of people, but does not give them a reason for exaltation. Trying to elevate himself above the Universe, a man opposes himself to everything and, of course, breaks down like a reed under blows or a strong gust of wind. The thinking reed is a metaphor that defines the essence of what a person is. But the meaning of expression is not limited to this; it is deeper.
What did the philosopher want to say?
Giving a person such an artistic and rather metaphorical definition as a âthinking reedâ, the scientist supplemented it with reflection on destruction. The scientist regarded the destruction of man as a kind of philosophical paradox.
On the one hand, man is the only creature of the Creator, possessing reason, capable of thinking and cognition. But on the other hand, for its destruction there is enough of a mere smallness - a drop, a blow. All the forces of the universe do not need to take up arms against a person to disappear. This, it seems, testifies to the insignificance of people, but everything is not as simple as it seems.
âThinking reedâ - a phrase made up not of random words. Reed is easy to break, that is, directly destroy. However, the philosopher adds the word "thinking." This suggests that the destruction of the physical shell does not necessarily entail the death of thought. And the immortality of thought is nothing but exaltation.
In other words, a person is at the same time both a particle of everything and a âcrown of creationâ. Even if the whole power of the Universe falls upon him, he will be able to realize this, understand and comprehend it. This is what Pascal writes.
How has expression gained fame in our country?
"There is buoyancy in the sea waves ..." - this is not a line from a song or poem. This is the name of the poem of F. I. Tyutchev. The work balances on the verge of two genres - elegy and lyrics. It is filled with philosophical reflection on the essence of man, about where his place in the world is and what is the role in everything that happens around.
Tyutchev wrote this verse in one of the most difficult periods of his life. The poet mourned the loss of his beloved, and in addition, he began to experience health problems. At the same time, that is, in the XIX century in Russia there was great interest in philosophical thought. Of course, among creative, intelligent and simply thinking people, not only the works of compatriots were in demand. Of great interest was the work, reflection and research of Western scholars, both contemporaries and those who had lived before. Of course, among them were the works of Blaise Pascal. Of course, without any doubt, Fedor Ivanovich Tyutchev was familiar with them.
In fact, the work of Tyutchev is very consonant with the thoughts of Pascal. It refers to the drama characteristic of the dissonance of a personâs self-awareness and his objective physiological place in the world around him. The poet raises the same questions as the French philosopher. However, Tyutchev does not give a definite answer to them. The work of the Russian poet ends with rhetoric, a question.
But of course, the phrase âthinking reedâ firmly entered Russian vocabulary not at all due to the consonance of the thoughts and antithesis set forth in the poem with the content and essence of the work of the French scientist. Tyutchevâs work simply uses this very definition of human nature. The poem closes the line "And the thinking reed murmurs?"