Restlessness, Habit and Absolute. Beginning and End of Desire in Augustine and Pascal

Abstract

The aim of this text is to show that, according to Augustine of Hippo –and in contrast to a relatively classic lecture of Pascal–, desire can be de beginning of the relation between man and the Absolute. I will divide the work into four parts: first I will describe the existential situation in which desire is born: restlessness. In second place I will describe the development of desire: as love or as concupiscence, according to its object and inclination. In third place I will try to describe the types of concupiscence and their parallelism in both authors. I conclude showing the importance of habit in the constitution of desire.

Keywords

• Agustín de Hipona
• Pascal
• amor
• costumbre
• deseo
• libido.