Abstract EN:

Pascal's idea of custom has already been a subject matter for pascalian scholars. But they interpret it in the light of either Montaigne or Descartes. The aim of this study is to show how Pascal, despite the influence of Montaigne and Descartes, remains original in his consideration of the notion of custom. There are two sections in this dissertation: a) custom and nature: Pascal reacts against Montaigne’s idea of custom, for him, "true religion" cannot rely on custom, because custom falls within the conception of "corrupt nature" which has to be "redeemed". B) custom in the apology: Pascal partly adopts seventeenth century mechanistic thought. However, in "the discourse of the machine" which is subtly linked to the wager argument, custom plays an intermediary role between "reason" and "inspiration". Thus can be understood the key sentence: "there are three ways to believe: reason, custom, inspiration".