Abstract

This paper aims to shed more light on the role played by the historical credence within the apologetic scheme of the Pensées. Starting from a discussion of Pascal’s sharp condemnation of Montaigne’s use of mythical sources, it briefly analyses how Pascal attempts to prove the authenticity of the Scriptures in order to convince unbelievers. Through the innate logical faculty of common sense, reason should offer a way to avoid the contradictions of scepticism and to distinguish sacred stories from pagan tales. More specifically, Pascal’s entire proof of the truthfulness of the Bible is built around the survival of a book, the Old Testament, and of a people, the Jewish one, who has handed it down during the centuries and despite persecutions.