Christopher Robbins

After holding various positions in academe and in the public service, I am now studying for a PhD. My subject is: FAITH AND REASON: BLAISE PASCAL. There are many uncritical studies of Pascal in English and French. But I propose to write a study which shows the great difficulty of the project which Pascal undertook, to persuade unbelievers to turn towards faith. I am not a believer, but no one can ignore the Christian tradition in Europe and its place on the frontiers of philosophical investigation. Nor can one ignore the many contributions Pascal made to several intellectual endeavours during his short life.

As well as continuing with this research I am now back teaching philosophy at the University of York in the UK. The course is on Pleasure in Ancient Greek Philosophy: Socrates (if we can know what he thought), Plato, Aristotle and Epicurus. The great gift of these philosophers to us is to encourage us to see morality as an opportunity to build our lives with others (whom we choose) rather than as a set of unrealistic rules.